Friday, April 12, 2002                                                                                 

FMCSA 7-02              

Contact: Dave Longo

Telephone: 202-366-0456

U.S. DOT Announces Free Seminars in Texas For Mexican-Domiciled Motor Carriers To Learn About Operating in the U.S.

  The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) today announced that it is holding two free seminars for Mexican-domiciled carriers to learn about the new operating authority application process, safety audits, compliance reviews and the federal motor carrier safety regulations.  This is another step the agency is taking toward safe implementation of the southern border truck and bus crossing provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).  

By sponsoring and conducting these seminars, to be held in each border State, the FMCSA is extending an invitation to all Mexican-domiciled motor carriers who currently operate or intend to operate in the U.S.  Instructors will be federal and state commercial vehicle safety inspectors and will include members of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA).  

The subjects to be addressed at the seminars will include:

U.S. Commercial Vehicle Safety Culture

The Application Process for Obtaining Authority To Operate In the U.S.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR)

General Requirements                                                             

Qualifications of Drivers                            Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Standards

Alcohol and Drugs                                     Driving Motor Vehicles    

Hours of Service                                        Parts and Accessories               

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards    Inspection and Repair                  

The Federal Hazardous Materials Regulations

The North American Standard Inspection Procedure

CVSA Out-of-Service Criteria

Specific State Requirements

U.S. Highway Safety Rules – Speed, Lane Changes and Rules of Road

The dates and locations of the two seminars being held in Texas are as follows:

April 15 in El Paso, TX                                             April 24 in Brownsville, TX

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.                                                           9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Hilton Camino Real Hotel                                            Four Points Sheraton Hotel

101 South El Paso Street                                             3777 North Expressway

Telephone:  915-872-4770                                          Telephone:  956-983-5959

  For more information about these safety compliance seminars, go to http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/ on the Internet and click on the listing showing seminar dates under the southern border heading.  Times and locations of the seminars in California, Arizona and New Mexico will be announced when details become available.

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Briefing Room