WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration say they have carried out all the statutory requirements before initiation of the Mexico cross-border pilot program.
The statement came in “The Cross-Border Trucking Pilot Program Report to Congress” filed earlier this month.
The report details the actions that the FMCSA said it is taking or has taken to address the issues raised by the DOT’s Office of Inspector General in its report to Congress concerning the pilot program.
In the report, the OIG said it found that the FMCSA had not identified the specific process it would use to comply with five requirements for conducting 50 percent of the pre-authority safety audits (PASA) and compliance reviews onsite in Mexico and that the FMCSA had not yet addressed certain issues for implementing the pilot program. Specifically, the OIG said the FMCSA had not (1) issued site–specific plans for checking drivers and trucks at the border, (2) established a system to verify driver and truck eligibility for the pilot program, (3) issued an implementation plan nor acquired electronic monitoring devices for use in the pilot program and (4) conducted pilot program training for inspection personnel at the border and within the United States.
The report to Congress said the FMCSA had taken all the steps necessary to comply with the Inspector General’s findings.
“The pilot program is an important step toward fulfilling the United States’ obligations under the North American Free Trade Agreement, removing tariffs on U.S. goods, and maintaining the relationship with one of the nation’s largest trading partners,” the DOT said in the report to Congress.
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The statement came in “The Cross-Border Trucking Pilot Program Report to Congress” filed earlier this month.
The report details the actions that the FMCSA said it is taking or has taken to address the issues raised by the DOT’s Office of Inspector General in its report to Congress concerning the pilot program.
In the report, the OIG said it found that the FMCSA had not identified the specific process it would use to comply with five requirements for conducting 50 percent of the pre-authority safety audits (PASA) and compliance reviews onsite in Mexico and that the FMCSA had not yet addressed certain issues for implementing the pilot program. Specifically, the OIG said the FMCSA had not (1) issued site–specific plans for checking drivers and trucks at the border, (2) established a system to verify driver and truck eligibility for the pilot program, (3) issued an implementation plan nor acquired electronic monitoring devices for use in the pilot program and (4) conducted pilot program training for inspection personnel at the border and within the United States.
The report to Congress said the FMCSA had taken all the steps necessary to comply with the Inspector General’s findings.
“The pilot program is an important step toward fulfilling the United States’ obligations under the North American Free Trade Agreement, removing tariffs on U.S. goods, and maintaining the relationship with one of the nation’s largest trading partners,” the DOT said in the report to Congress.
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