Bush Opens U.S. Roads To Mexican Trucks

President Bush Wednesday gave the go-ahead for Mexican trucks to travel farther into the U.S.

The approval allows Mexican trucks to travel beyond commercial border zones where they have been restricted while inspection sites and new regulations were put in place.

The decision comes nearly one year after Bush had said he wanted to allow Mexican trucks on U.S. roads — in compliance with the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Mexican trucks and buses won´t be on U.S. highways until the Department of Transportation can review applications from carriers. It must then grant qualifying carriers provisional operating authority.

Bush´s decision also comes just after a visit by Secretary of State Colin Powell with Mexican President Vicente Fox in Mexico.