The U.S. Department of Transportation published additional details about the rigorous safety standards and inspection program in place for its cross-border trucking demonstration program in a supplemental Federal Register notice Friday.

"This information shows the great lengths to which we've gone to ensure this program meets high safety standards while providing American businesses opportunities for further economic growth," Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator John H. Hill said. "We continue to meet or exceed every condition required by law."
The notice includes comprehensive information about the cross-border trucking demonstration program, including pre-authorization safety audits of Mexican trucking companies, which are conducted by U.S. auditors in Mexico.
It also details specific measures already in place to protect public health and safety - including roadside inspections, safety ratings, compliance reviews and civil penalties - as well as English language proficiency requirements and a review of U.S. motor carrier safety laws and corresponding Mexican regulations.
The supplemental notice, which was required by the Iraq War Supplemental appropriations bill passed by Congress and signed by President Bush late last month, is available at http://dmses.dot.gov/docimages/p101/472439.pdf and will be open for comment until June 28.
FMCSA will analyze comments received from this supplemental notice - as well as the original Federal Register notice published May 1 - once the new comment period closes.