Senate OKs Mexican Truck Screening

The Senate on Tuesday gave final approval to a compromise with President Bush imposing safety requirements Mexican trucks will have to meet before they can gain wider access to highways in the United States, news services reported.

The regulations were part of a $59.6 billion measure financing fiscal 2002 federal transportation programs. Approved in the Senate, 97-2, the bill also includes hundreds of millions of dollars for building roads and other transportation projects.

On Friday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 371-11 to grant Mexican trucks the same access as Canadian trucks provided they meet stringent safety standards.

President Bush is expected to sign the bill even though the final provisions on Mexican trucks are tougher than the White House wanted initially.

The safety standards include license verification of Mexican truck drivers, on-site inspections and audits of trucking firms to ensure compliance with U.S. safety laws, the Associated Press reported.

The bill also provides $140 million for improving facilities and operations linked to opening the border.

Although Mexico and the White House hoped to begin moving long-haul trucks across the border next month, many lawmakers said they think it will take several months to satisfy the safety standards, Reuters reported.