WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 24, 1999) — More than 250 members of Congress appealed to the Clinton administration again to delay allowing Mexican truckers unrestricted access to operate in the United States.

In a letter sent to president yesterday, the lawmakers expressed concern about the safety of Mexican trucks and staff shortages among truck inspectors at the border. The letter, signed by 253 members of Congress, said the restrictions ” are essential to our ability to protect the safety of the traveling public and our commercial drivers.”

The lawmakers asked the president to delay access until Mexico and the U.S. can agree on safety standards and enforcement programs.

Under the North American Free Trade Agreement, Mexican trucks were to have unrestricted access to the United States starting in 1995. The restrictions are to be lifted in January 2000.

Mexican trucks are subject to safety checks at the border and allowed to operate only in designated commercial areas no farther than 20 miles from the U.S. border.

The U.S. Transportation Department estimates that 11,000 Mexican trucks cross the border daily. A DOT inspector general’s report released last year found that 44% of those vehicles inspected were taken out of service due to serious safety concerns.

The Teamsters union, concerned that Mexican drivers would perform work otherwise done by Americans, applauded the lawmakers and played up the safety fears.

James Hoffa, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, asked, “Do you want to be driving in Michigan or Colorado or New York with your family and have an unsafe tractor-trailer coming up behind you driven by a 16-year-old making six dollars a day?’

The minimum age to get a licence to drive a commercial truck in Mexico is 21 years, with at least three years of experience driving cars.