WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced it will be tracking all Mexican trucks operating into the US under a cross-border trucking demonstration project.

Each participating truck will bet tracked in real-time using satellite-based vehicle tracking systems, the agency announced late last week. The satellite systems will be installed at no cost to the trucking companies taking part in the program, the FMCSA announced.

“This will give us the ability to monitor every vehicle from Mexico and ensure all companies are following our strict safety requirements, including those governing hours of service and cabotage,” said John Hill, FMCSA administrator.

One of the programs most vocal critics, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) responded with a statement questioning the effectiveness of the plan.

It may sound impressive to those unfamiliar with the industry or the limits of the technology, but closer scrutiny verifies its a cosmetic cover up for a poorly conceived program, said executive vice-president of OOIDA, Todd Spencer. You can polish up a rock, but then youll just have a shiny rock.

OOIDA pointed out the FMCSA has a difficult enough time trying to track compliance among US-based carriers.

I dont see how this ensures anything from a safety or security standpoint. Wed like FMCSA to explain in more detail exactly how this system will actually keep track of the hours-of-service of a trucker, added Spencer. And as we might have expected, FMCSA has US taxpayers picking up the tab for this from money that should be spent on highways and bridges.