WASHINGTON — U.S. transport authorities say Mexican trucks will start rolling north onto American highways in 60 days.

Facing criticism from some trucking carriers, owner-operators, public interest and protectionist groups, DOT Secretary Mary E. Peters said the pilot program that allows select Mexican carriers to haul in the U.S. includes on-site DOT facility audits and prescreening of Mexican truckers, as well as drug tests and insurance checks.

Mexican truckers will also be restricted from carrying hazardous materials, and like Canadian carriers, will not be allowed to haul point-to-point domestically in the U.S. in violation of cabotage rules.

Critics says Mexican truckers’ work hours are
unenforceable on their side of the border.

Currently, Mexican truckers are restricted to a 20-mile commercial zone north of the U.S.-Mexico border, at which point they must transfer goods to U.S. carriers for transport to the rest of the country.

Critics, which include some company carriers, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, the Teamsters, and watchdog group Public Citizen insist Mexican trucks are dangerous because, unlike Canadian carriers that have similar hours-of-service rules, Mexican HOS are not monitored until drivers cross the border.

“It is simply abhorrent to think that our government would allow Mexican trucks full access to U.S. highways before all safety, economic and homeland security concerns are completely and appropriately addressed,” said Todd Spencer, OOIDA executive vice-president.

“It seems to me that the Department of Transportation is bending over backwards to accommodate Mexican motor carriers, 1,000 Mexican truckers, and the Mexican government. Yet on matters that would significantly help hundreds of thousands of American truckers and advance safety on our country’s highways, we often hear from DOT officials that the department has limited resources and staff.”

The Bush Administration, acknowledging its obligation under NAFTA, has been trying to lift the restriction to Mexican carriers since 2001.

(UPDATE: A previous version of this article stated that the American Trucking Associations also opposed giving access to Mexican fleets. In fact, the ATA officially supports the plan. We regret the error.)