Transportation Border Working Group

April 23, 2008

Milt SchmidtNorth American Borders Division

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE

Washington DC 20590202-366-4049

Milt.schmidt@dot.gov

Transportation Border Working Group

• Research Initiatives

• CMV Financial Responsibility

• Motor Carrier Safety Rating Reciprocity

• Data Exchange

• International Trade Data System

• Driver Medical Standards

• Cross-Border Demonstration Project

Research Initiatives

• Canadian Issues Study– Regulatory comparison– Safety rating system comparison– Key issues affecting reciprocity– Web page

• Motor Carriers• Enforcement

Research Initiatives

• Cargo Securement– Vermont-Quebec– Closed Trailers

• Safety Rating Comparative Analysis– North Dakota-Manitoba– US data run using Canada methodology

(NSC)

• Border Inspection Vehicle Identification– University of New Mexico

US-Canada Safety Rating Reciprocity

• US-Canada MOA 1994• Security and Prosperity Partnership

Agreement• Mutual recognition of motor carrier safety

ratings• Status

– Identify significant issues– Work to resolve significant issue– Agreement expected by September 2008

CMV Safety Data Exchange

• First Step for Safety Rating Reciprocity

• CMV Safety Inspection Data– Identification of motor carrier– Quality of data

• Accident Reports– Definition of accident

• Driver Conviction Data– FMCSA does not currently collect

Canadian Petition

• Canadian Embassy –Financial Responsibility– Allow Canadian insurance companies to issue

MCS-90 endorsement

• NPRM Published– 9 comments

• Final Rule expected by December 2009

ACE-ITDS

• FMCSA partnering with CBP• MOU is ready for signature• Process has been tested

– License verification– Motor carrier safety status– Outstanding penalties– Out-of-service order– Insurance– CVSA decal

• Expected implementation – Summer 2008

Driver Medical Standards

• 1999 Exchange of Letters

• FMCSR-National Safety Code

• Exceptions– Diabetes– Epilepsy– Hearing– Waivers/Regulatory Exemptions

• Review of Standards

Cross-Border Demonstration Project

• NAFTA

• 2002 Appropriations Bill– Section 350 requirements

• OIG Annual Reports– Verification of 8 Section 350 requirements

• Secretary’s certification

• February 23 announcement

Background

• Iraq supplemental funding bill – Pilot program– Federal Register Notice– OIG Review

• Implemented Demonstration Project on September 6, 2007

• FY 2008 Appropriations Act– “None of the funds made available under this Act may

be used to establish a cross-border motor carrier demonstration program…”

Scope of Demonstration Project

• Up to 100 US Carriers

• Up to 100 Mexico –Domiciled Motor Carriers

• One Year

Regulatory Requirements

• All US Safety Regulations– FMCSR– FMVSS

• All US Environmental Standards

• All Registration and Fuel Tax Regulations– IFTA– IRP

• All Immigration Requirements

Key Issues

Every Vehicle Every Time Check– CVSA Decal check– Driver license check– Verify English language proficiency

• Point-to-point domestic transportation (cabotage)– Applies only to Mexico-domiciled motor

carriers

Key Issues

• English Language Proficiency/Sign Recognition– English Language Assessment– FMCSA policy

• Commercial zone exemption from OOS• Applicable to all motor carriers operating in US

– Sign Recognition Assessment– Volpe Study

Key Issues

• Vehicle Tracking– Hours of Service– Entry in and exit from US– Mileage– Cabotage

Status

• Participants– MX carriers: 21– US Carriers: 8

• Vehicles– MX Vehicles: 73– US Vehicles: 48

• Trips– MX Crossings: 5842

• Beyond Zone: 680

– US Crossings: 1150

Tranpsportation Border Working Group

QUESTIONS?

Milt SchmidtDivision Chief

North American Borders DivisionFederal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SEWashington, DC 20590

202-366-4049Milt.schmidt@dot.gov