Public Citizen Sues FMCSA Over Mexican Truck Plan

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Safety-watchdog group Public Citizen said Tuesday it sued the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on behalf of a highway safety organization to compel the agency to release information about recent decision to allow Mexican trucks onto U.S. highways.The nonprofit group Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the agency in October for information about activities surrounding a program to evaluate Mexico-based motor carriers that would be permitted to operate beyond the Mexico-U.S. border zone No details about the methodology for evaluating the project, or its criteria, have been revealed, Public Citizen said. The group has also sued FMCSA over hours-of-service rules in the past.The safety group is particularly concerned with how such a program would comply with congressional restrictions and safeguards established in the 2002 transportation law that governs pilot projects.Last month, the Bush administration, through FMCSA and the Department of Transportation, announced a 12-month pilot project to allow Mexico-domiciled trucks to operate beyond the border zone.The suit was filed in the circuit court of the District of Columbia.(Click here for previous coverage.)