Contact: Jennifer Fuson
202-965-3500 x8609
jennifer.fuson@justice.org
Mexican-Based Trucks Should Carry Adequate Insurance
NAFTA Trucking Provisions Lack Protections for Motorists Injured in Accidents
Washington, DC—A trucking pilot program created as part of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) lacks protections for motorists injured in accidents, allowing Mexican-based trucks to operate in the United States without carrying adequate insurance protections, according to the American Association for Justice (AAJ). AAJ submitted comments today in response to proposed rules from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the agency responsible for truck safety.
The proposed pilot program allows Mexican-based trucks to self-insure instead of purchasing independent insurance, potentially leaving motorists injured through negligence or other incidents without the ability to recover damages from the Mexican motor carrier.
Every year, more than 4,000 people are killed and over 100,000 injured in truck crashes in the U.S. Mexico does not have the same safety requirements for trucks and their operators as required in the U.S., and allowing them to operate in the states could potentially increase the risk of accidents on U.S. highways.
“AAJ is an advocate for motorists who have been injured or killed in highway crashes, including those killed by unsafe long-haul truckers. AAJ understands that there may be a positive economic impact for the United States if the United States-Mexico cross-border long-haul trucking pilot program moves forward,” said AAJ President Gibson Vance in the submitted comments. “Nevertheless, AAJ believes that the FMCSA should require more protection for motorists by requiring Mexican-based operators to carry insurance instead of self-insuring.”
AAJ’s submitted comments can be found here.
