WASHINGTON, D.C. — Just last week the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) was applauding a bill that aimed to kill a controversial pilot project allowing Mexican truckers access to the US.

Today, the organization issued a release stating it was “stunned” that the program was being extended.

The US Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) caught OOIDA off-guard Monday by announcing a two-year extension to the program. The owner/operator group said it was no mistake that the FMCSA made the extension known the first day Congress was out of session.

“The Administration has shown time and again that when it comes to this program they are willing to run roughshod over Congress and the American public,” said Todd Spencer, OOIDA executive vice-president. “Announcing this on the first day of the recess is unfortunately par for the course with them. Sorry for the clich, but it’s ‘Bush league’ tactics.”

Congress has voted several times to end the program, which allows some Mexican truckers to operate beyond the commercial zone along the US/Mexico border.

“DOT has consistently bent over backwards to force this program on the public. They seem oblivious to the inherent safety and security risks of what they are trying to do,” Spencer added.