The Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association has filed a request with the U.S. Supreme Court asking it to review a recent lower court decision upholding the federal government’s long-haul, cross-border trucking program with Mexico.

It argues the decision allowing the program is in violation of U.S. Transportation Department regulations requiring valid U.S. commercial driver’s licenses for anyone driving trucks in the country.

The current program, started in 2011, treats a Mexican commercial driver’s license as equivalent to one issued in the U.S. and requires all Mexican trucking operations to follow the same rules as their  U.S. counterparts when they are north of the border.

Currently 13 Mexican fleets have been granted authority to run in the current program. Three are waiting to receive their authority and another 17 have had their applications dismissed or they have been withdrawn.

Earlier this year the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied petitions by OOIDA and the Teamsters union to declare the program illegal. 

Both groups have been fighting the border opening since it was included in the North American Free Trade Agreement signed by the U.S., Mexico and Canada in 1994.

The request to the U.S. Supreme Court was filed solely by OOIDA and asks for a response by late this month.