Acceptance of Applications for Mexican-Domiciled Long-Haul Operations

T.F. Scott Darling, III
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
January 15, 2015

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 10 (Thursday, January 15, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 2179]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-00555]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2011-0097]


Acceptance of Applications for Mexican-Domiciled Long-Haul 
Operations

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The United States-Mexico Cross-Border Long-Haul Trucking Pilot 
Program (Pilot Program) concluded on October 10, 2014. The Pilot 
Program was part of FMCSA's implementation of the North American Free 
Trade Agreement (NAFTA) cross-border long-haul trucking provisions. 
Congress required the Pilot Program to test the safety of granting 
long-haul authority to Mexico-domiciled motor carriers. This notice 
announces that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has 
submitted the required report to Congress and is accepting applications 
from Mexico-domiciled motor carriers interested in conducting long-haul 
operations.

DATES: This decision is effective January 15, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Docket: For access to the docket to read background 
documents or comments submitted to previous notices concerning the 
Pilot Program, go to www.regulations.gov at any time or visit Room W12-
140 on the ground level of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., ET, Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. The on-line Federal document 
management system is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. 
The docket number is FMCSA-2011-0097.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bryan Price, Chief, North American 
Borders Division, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001. Telephone (202) 366-2995; 
email Bryan.Price@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: From October 14, 2011, to October 10, 2014, 
FMCSA conducted a Pilot Program to test and demonstrate the ability of 
Mexico-based motor carriers to operate safely in the United States 
beyond the municipalities and commercial zones along the United States-
Mexico border. The Pilot Program was part of FMCSA's implementation of 
the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) cross-border long-haul 
trucking provisions.
    As of October 10, 2014, 13 Mexico-domiciled motor carriers with 
authority to operate in the United States beyond the commercial zones 
and municipalities at the U.S.-Mexico border had successfully 
participated in the Pilot Program and established a record of safety.
    On October 10, 2014, FMCSA issued new certificates of operating 
authority registration to the 13 Pilot Program participants pursuant to 
49 U.S.C. 13902(a) and (c),\1\ the November 27, 2002 Memorandum of the 
President of the United States to the Secretary of Transportation [67 
FR 71795 (December 2, 2002)] and the motor carriers' successful 
performance in the Pilot Program.\2\
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    \1\ Including compliance with Section 350 of the Fiscal Year 
2002 DOT Appropriations Act, (Pub. L. 104-87), which has been 
incorporated in successive appropriations legislation.
    \2\ Pursuant to the procedures noted in 76 FR 40420 (July 8, 
2011).
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    On October 10, 2014, the Department verbally advised Congress of 
the completion of the Pilot Program. On January 9, 2015, DOT submitted 
its report titled, ``United States-Mexico Cross-Border Long-Haul 
Trucking Pilot Program Report to Congress'' to the House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations as well as the Senate Committee on 
Commerce, Science and Transportation and the House of Representatives' 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. A copy of the report is 
posted in the docket for this program (FMCSA-2011-0097) and the Agency 
posted a link to the docket on the Pilot Program's Web site at: http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/international-programs/mexico-cross-border-trucking-pilot-program.
    As a result of the successful completion of the Pilot Program, 
FMCSA will again accept applications from Mexico-domiciled motor 
carriers seeking authority to operate in long-haul transportation 
beyond the U.S. commercial zones. Information regarding the application 
and review processes is available at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/form-op-1mx.

    Issued on: January 9, 2015.
T.F. Scott Darling, III,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2015-00555 Filed 1-14-15; 8:45 am]
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