Texas Resumes Truck Safety Inspections at Border Entry in El Paso
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has resumed enhanced truck safety inspections at the Bridge of the Americas and the Ysleta-Zaragoza International Bridge Ports of Entry in El Paso. This move is part of the state’s efforts to bolster safety measures and crack down on criminal activities at the border.
According to DPS spokeswoman Sheridan Nolen, the inspections are aimed at ensuring the safety of commercial vehicles entering Texas. Last year, DPS Director Steven McCraw had highlighted the role of safety inspections in preventing drug smuggling activities by criminal organizations at the border.
These recent inspections in El Paso are not isolated incidents. Similar initiatives were also carried out at the Del Rio border crossing in South Texas, the Marcelino Serna port of entry in Tornillo, and in Brownsville and Laredo, Texas. However, the inspections have faced criticism, with officials from Canacar, Mexico’s national freight chamber of commerce, citing that the 2023 inspections in El Paso led to approximately 19,000 trucks being stranded at the Mexican border, carrying goods worth $1.9 billion destined for the U.S.
It’s essential to note that the Texas DPS inspections are in addition to commercial truck inspections conducted by Mexican customs, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the U.S. Department of Transportation. These combined efforts reflect a comprehensive approach to ensuring the safety and security of cross-border commercial transportation.
Criticism of the inspections has also come from U.S. officials, with U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar expressing concerns about their practical effectiveness, stating that the DPS can only check certain vehicle components and cannot open cargo trailers.
The resumption of truck safety inspections in El Paso is a significant development with implications for cross-border trade and security measures. As the DPS continues to enforce these inspections, their impact on commercial transportation and response to criticisms will be crucial points to monitor.
Source article here: https://www.freightwaves.com/news/texas-resumes-truck-safety-inspections-at-border-entry-in-el-paso
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