September 19, 2007

WASHINGTON - – IBC Inc., a San Diego-based trucking company, and Transportes Rafa, a Mexicali, Baja-based trucking company, have both received authority to make long-haul deliveries in Mexico and the United States, respectively, as part of the cross-border trucking demonstration project.

These are the second companies from each country to receive authority since the one-year demonstration was launched Sept. 6, said John Hill, Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which oversees the program.

"We are enforcing tough safety standards at every stage of this demonstration as we tap into this unique opportunity to compete in new markets and increase border trade efficiency," Hill said. “There is tremendous potential to reduce costs for American consumers and businesses while maintaining safety on American roads."

Thousands of Mexican commercial trucks operate every day in U.S. cities like San Diego and El Paso and last year made more than 4 million crossings into border commercial zones, which extend approximately 20-25 miles into the United States. U.S. commercial trucks, however, have never had the authority to operate in Mexico. Last Week, Stagecoach Cartage and Distribution, of El Paso, made the first trip ever into Mexico as part of the demonstration project.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced the start of a cross-border trucking demonstration project that would expand current border operations to allow up to 100 U.S. trucking companies to operate in Mexico and up to 100 Mexican trucking companies to operate beyond commercial zones in the U.S.

Every company, vehicle and driver participating in the program must pass a rigorous safety audit and inspection before being allowed to participate in the demonstration project. Checks on Mexican companies, vehicles and drivers are identical to, and in some instances more stringent than those of their U.S. counterparts.

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