WASHINGTON—The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has filed suit against the U.S. Department of Transportation, challenging the DOT decision to open U.S. highways to Mexican trucks.
The suit was filed March 10 with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Two other groups — Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety and the Truck Safety Coalition — joined the Teamsters as plaintiffs.
According to the lawsuit, the DOT violated the Administrative Procedures Act when it reported to Congress that Mexican trucks operate under safety standards equal to or greater than U.S. and Canadian trucks.
In fact, the lawsuit alleges, the DOT Inspector General's (IG) own report states that the agency's pilot program on Mexican trucks failed to generate any statistically significant data.
“Due to the lack of significant data, the IG could not have determined with any degree of confidence the future safety performance of Mexican-domiciled carriers,” the Teamsters said in a press release.
The DOT's January decision to approve the entry of Mexican trucks into the U.S. based on inconclusive data was arbitrary and capricious, according to the lawsuit.
“It is disappointing that the DOT has chosen to ignore the findings of the Inspector General and is moving forward with opening the border to Mexican trucks,” said Teamsters General President James Hoffa in the press release. “The safety of our roads cannot be compromised based on this failed program.”