August 8, 2008

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) said it would extend the controversial cross-border trucking program with Mexico for another two years.

Officials from the agency said the action was allowable under U.S. law, despite efforts in Congress as recently as last week to end the test program, which was set to expire this fall.

Since 1982, the DOT has prohibited Mexican truck drivers operating beyond a twenty-five mile commercial zone within the U.S.

Last year, the agency launched a one-year pilot program that would allow one hundred pre-screened Mexican carriers to operate freely within the entire U.S.