Arkansas Truckers Cautious on Bush's Policy.

The president of the Arkansas Trucking Association reacted cautiously last week to the news that President Bush intends to begin allowing Mexican motor carriers to operate throughout the U.S.

Lane Kidd said the organization agrees with the American Trucking Association's support for the plan, but also voiced concerns.

The Clinton administration cited safety concerns when it consistently refused to allow the trucks to operate beyond a narrow border zone, despite a provision to the contrary in the North American Free Trade Act.

"We want, as an organization, to make sure that trucks originating in Mexico and delivering freight in the U.S., which are now competitors, are complying with the very same rules as we are," Kidd said. "Our bottom line is that all trucks comply with the same rules."

The question is more than academic in Arkansas, he said, because Interstate 30, which connects Little Rock and Dallas, is "a primary NAFTA corridor."

"We should expect to see more of these Mexican carriers," in the state, he said.

The Teamsters Union, which represents many U.S. truck drivers, will continue to oppose the policy, the Associated Press reported.

"We will continue to fight the opening of the border until the Mexican government can guarantee their standards are higher and the U.S. can guarantee that we have the inspection facilities to keep unsafe trucks out," said Teamsters spokesman Bret Caldwell.

Kidd pointed to federal inspection data.

"It is of concern to note that the [U.S.] Department of Transportation did place about 35 percent of those Mexican trucks inspected [at random roadside checks] out of service," Kidd said, adding that the out-of-service rate for U.S. trucks in similar inspections is approximately 5 percent.