WASHINGTON — About 1,000 Mexican trucks could be rolling through all parts of the U.S. as early as this Thursday after a San Francisco Appeals Court ruled the controversial project may proceed as planned.

The Teamsters and other special interest and trucking groups such as Public Citizen, the Sierra Club, and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association filed lawsuits last week seeking an emergency stay of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s one-year pilot to allow 100 Mexican carriers access to the U.S. beyond the current 25-mile border restriction zone.

The groups claimed the FMCSA’s decision to forge ahead defied Congress’ vote to block the program until the DOT’s Inspector General has finished reviewing it and that proper safeguards were in place.

The decision by the Appeals Court means the FMCSA can allow the pre-screened Mexican carriers across the border as early as Thursday, Sept. 6 — a day after the Inspector General releases his second report on the program.

Another previous hurdle — that the pilot could only commence after Mexico also reciprocates access to U.S. carriers — looks to have been cleared.

According to a Mexican transportation publication, authorities there are putting the finishing touches on a rule that grants American carriers hauling rights to the Mexican market.

“The court’s prompt decision denying an emergency stay is welcome news for U.S. truck drivers anxious to compete south of the border and U.S. consumers eager to realize the savings of more efficient shipments with one of our largest trading partners,” FMCSA said in a statement. “However, we still must wait for the Inspector General’s new assessment, respond to that report and have Mexico begin giving U.S. trucking companies access before we can begin this program.”

Public Citizen said that while it is disappointed in the court’s ruling not to block the program, it is encouraged that the three-judge panel did not address the merits of the group’s suit challenging the legality of the pilot.

“That lawsuit will proceed, and the court will address the lawfulness of the pilot program after full briefing and argument. We are hopeful that the court will agree with us that the pilot program fails to meet the requirements set by Congress.”

The Teamsters and OOIDA add that their own battles aren’t over. “This is the wrong decision for American working men and women,” Teamsters President Jim Hoffa said late Friday. “We will now proceed to litigate this case on the merits. We believe this program clearly breaks the law.”