OOIDA and Others Form Coalition and Sue DOT over cross-border program

[Staff]

A coalition of organizations have filed suit in a California federal court against the U.S. Department of Transportation, charging that the impending pilot program for Mexican-domiciled carriers to operate beyond the border zone violates federal laws requiring public notice of and opportunity for comment on regulatory pilot programs.

“We have strongly opposed this program since first introduced,” said Todd Spencer, executive vice president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, one party to the suit, “and in particular, the secretive nature in which it has been presented by the DOT.”

Joining OOIDA were the Teamsters Union, Public Citizen, the Sierra Club and the Environmental Law Foundation.

The plaintiffs also charged that the DOT had not complied with congressional requests for clarification of how exactly the agency would verify Mexican drivers’ records, test for drugs and alcohol abuse and ensure compliance with hours of service, cabotage, inspections and insurance rules.
more...