Dear Senator:
As the Commerce Committee continues to review the Administration’s cross-border trucking program, I wanted to share with you the attached policy statement recently agreed to by the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD). As you will see, the statement calls for an end to the pilot program and specifically voices our opposition to opening the border to foreign bus operations.
While the current pilot program is limited to truck operations, provisions in NAFTA also allow for bus operations between the United States and Mexico. Unfortunately, many Mexican bus operators ignore safety standards, hours of service limits, drug and alcohol testing requirements, and insurance obligations. If the pilot program is allowed to proceed over the clear objections of Congress and the safety issues raised are not addressed, workers and the traveling public will be put at further risk when the border is opened to bus operations. We urge you to ensure that this does not occur and ask that the Senate take whatever actions are necessary to stop this program now.
If you have any questions about TTD’s position or need additional information, please contact me or Brendan Danaher at 202/628-9262.
Sincerely,
Edward Wytkind
President
