Limitation on long-haul cross border motor carrier operations

(a)

Termination of pilot program

Not later than September 6, 2008, the Secretary of Transportation shall terminate the one-year cross border demonstration project the Secretary started on September 6, 2007, as described in the Federal Register notices dated May 1, 2007 (72 Fed. Reg. 23883), June 8, 2007 (72 Fed. Reg. 31877), and August 17, 2007 (72 Fed. Reg. 46263). (b)

Congressional authorization required

Unless expressly authorized by Congress, the Secretary may not grant authority to a motor carrier domiciled in Mexico to operate beyond United States municipalities and commercial zones on the United States-Mexico border after September 6, 2008.

Reports to Congress

Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act— (1)the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation shall transmit to Congress the final report required by section 6901(c) of the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 (Public Law 110–28); (2)the independent review panel established by the Secretary of Transportation to monitor the demonstration project referred to in section 1(a) shall transmit to Congress a report— (A)evaluating the effects that the demonstration project has had on motor carrier safety, including an analysis of any accidents involving motor carriers participating in the demonstration project; and (B)containing recommendations for modifications to the process of granting authority to a motor carrier domiciled in Mexico to operate beyond United States municipalities and commercial zones on the United States-Mexico border and for monitoring the future operations of such carriers in the United States, in order to enhance safety; (3)the Secretary shall transmit to Congress a report detailing the implementation of and the participation of motor carriers in the demonstration project referred to in section 1(a), including— (A)the number and names of United States and Mexico domiciled motor carriers that participated in the demonstration project and the number of vehicles each motor carrier utilized in the demonstration project; (B)the number of border crossings by motor carriers participating in the demonstration project, including the number of crossings which resulted in a motor carrier traveling beyond United States municipalities and commercial zones on the United States-Mexico border; (C)an itemization of safety and operational violations identified among motor carriers participating in the demonstration project in pre-authorization safety audits, compliance reviews, and roadside inspections, including a review of the most frequent types of violations; (D)an analysis of the cost to the Federal Government and State partners of implementing the demonstration project, including administrative costs, safety monitoring and enforcement costs, and the cost of installing global positioning system units on participating vehicles; and (E)measures taken by the Secretary to terminate the authority of motor carriers participating in the demonstration project to operate beyond United States municipalities and commercial zones on the United States-Mexico border after September 6, 2008, and ensure that such motor carriers cease long-haul operations.