February 17, 2005: The Department of Transportation (DOT) recently issued a report concluding that the Mexican government and the country’s trucking firms have not met the safety requirements and preconditions outlined in the provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The report says Mexican trucking companies should not be granted long-haul operating authority within the U.S.

The DOT cites problems with access to safety inspections, and raises serious concerns about gathering data on Mexican drivers to identify high-risk carriers, verify insurance information, and establish drug and alcohol testing requirements.