Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/764541
A restriction barring Mexico-domi- ciled carriers from leasing commer- cial vehicles to U.S. carriers to haul freight inside the U.S. and beyond commercial zones on the border has been lifted, per a notice published November 22 the Federal Register from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The restriction was set with the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999, which established FMCSA, and was to be kept in place until certain obligations in the North American Free Trade Agreement had been met. To meet these obligations, FMCSA con- ducted the U.S.-Mexico Cross Border Long-Haul Trucking Pilot Program from 2011 through 2014 to determine the ability of Mexican motor carriers to operate safely in the U.S. Although the Department of Trans- portation Office of Inspector General determined the program had too few Mexican carrier participants, FMCSA moved forward anyway, and, in Janu- ary 2015, began accepting applications from Mexico-based haulers for operat- ing authority, meeting the NAFTA obligations and lifting the restriction. FMCSA says Mexico-domiciled carri- ers are now allowed to lease equipment to U.S. motor carriers regardless of where the freight is going, as long as the equipment is up to FMCSA regula- tions. In such cases, the U.S. carrier assumes "complete responsibility for the opera- tion of the equipment for the duration of the lease," FMCSA adds. • 6 www.bigriglease.com J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 Industry News > by Matt Cole FMCSA: Mexican carriers can now lease equipment to U.S. carriers