Court backs FMCSA authority on Mexican permits

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on June 29 rejected challenges to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s statutory authority to issue permits for U.S. long-haul operations to Mexico-domiciled trucking companies. The court also ruled that the FMSCA’s grant of a long-haul operating permit to Mexico-domiciled carrier Trajosa SA de CV was not subject to judicial review because the agency has discretion to make such a decision based on the results of a pilot program. The petition for review in the case was filed by the Teamsters Union, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, and the Truck Safety Coalition and was supported by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association.