Move to Ease Congestion : New Lane Is Opened for Empty Commercial Trucks Entering U.S.

In an effort to ease congestion at the border, U.S. and Mexican authorities Monday opened a new lane for commercial trucks entering the United States via San Ysidro, one of the world’s most active ports of entry.

The northbound lane farthest to the left will be largely reserved during weekdays for empty commercial trucks entering the United States from Tijuana, officials said. (Trucks with loads are required to enter via the Otay Mesa crossing, 6 miles to the east.)

Mexican authorities said they will assist in directing the trucks, which are generally returning to the United States after dropping off loads in Mexico or are heading north to pick up cargo.

The move, creating a truck lane similar to the bus lane already in place at the far eastern end of the inspection facility, is designed to facilitate traffic flow and reduce hazards to other vehicles from the trucks. The level of inspection will remain the same.

Trucks Had Been Cause of Much Congestion

“The trucks have been causing a lot of congestion,” noted Jerry Martin, port director for the U.S. Customs Service.

Previously, Martin explained, the trucks waited in line along with passenger vehicles at any of the 24 inspection lanes that may be open at a given time. After reaching inspection booths, however, agents generally require that the trucks enter the secondary, or supplemental, inspection area, which is to the left of the northbound traffic.

Because of those logistics, trucks in right-hand lanes heading to the second phase of inspection have routinely cut off many lanes of traffic. The situation can become chaotic, particularly in the busy morning hours when motorists are anxious to reach their destinations.

The new move, officials said, should also expedite traffic slightly, as agents manning the most inspection booths will not have to worry about commercial trucks--vehicles that are frequently utilized by smugglers. The new truck lane, open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday, will be largely staffed by agents already assigned to truck inspection and will cause the loss of a passenger vehicle lane, according to customs officials.

Trucking Industry Applauds the Move

Mexican authorities and trucking-industry officials applauded the move as a means to expedite traffic. “My first impression is that this could be a good concept,” said Rene Romero, a San Ysidro trucking broker who is president of the San Ysidro Brokers Assn. “Hopefully, this will make things easier.”

Customs officials said about 400 empty trucks from Mexico pass through inspection at San Ysidro each day. The number has increased by about 14% in the last year, Martin said, reflecting a general upward trend in the multibillion-dollar border commerce.

San Ysidro is considered one of the world’s most active border crossings. About 33,000 vehicles, mostly passenger cars, enter the United States each day through the port. Its traffic jams are also legendary: wrenching one-hour waits before entering the United States are not uncommon, and delays at times exceed several hours. The delays are the source of frequent complaints by merchants and businessmen dependent on the smooth flow of merchandise and customers.