Trucking crunch may ease as Mexicans win free access to US roads

A long-standing truck shortage in the US is expected to ease after a San Francisco appeals court rejected a Teamsters union bid, backed by the environmentalist Sierra Club to maintain a ban against Mexican trucks on American roads, Reuters reported.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco denied an emergency petition to halt a Congress-approved pilot programme to allow Mexican trucks on US roads.

Until now, Mexican trucks operating in the United States have been restricted to US points where their goods must be transferred to American carriers.

After the ruling, Mexican long-haul trucking companies, which meet safety, licensing, and other US requirements, will be allowed to operate rigs throughout the country, reducing costs and speeding up shipments.

Canadian trucks have no operating restrictions in the United States.

The US Department of Transportation welcomed the ruling and said in a statement that allowing more direct shipments from Mexico will benefit US consumers.