For example, there are no drug and alcohol testing programs, no hours of service regulations, and no database to track safety violations of Mexican carriers and drivers. Mexican trucks are far heavier than U.S. trucks and are rarely labeled properly when hauling toxic chemicals. As many as 25 percent of the trucks coming to the U.S. from Mexico are carrying hazardous materials, yet only 1 in 14 is labeled as such. The heavier weight damages U.S. roads and can lead to more deadly accidents.
Mexican trucks have far more safety deficiencies than U.S. trucks.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has repeatedly documented safety problems with Mexican trucks. The U.S. lacks sufficient capabilities to monitor border traffic. Currently, only 1 percent of the 4 million Mexican trucks entering the U.S. are inspected. According to Texas Department of Safety data, Mexican trucks are increasingly involved in fatal accidents, nearly doubling their percentage from 1997 to 1998. Nothing has been done to improve these conditions that would justify the lifting of the current travel restrictions on Mexican trucks.