Tag Archives: Nogales

ADOT truck safety training expands to maquiladora industry

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NOGALES – The Arizona Department of Transportation’s first-of-its-kind international truck safety training program is adding another innovation to its resume: focusing instruction on commercial truckers from the maquiladora industry.

At the request of operators of border-area plants in Mexico making goods for export, ADOT’s Border Liaison Unit recently offered its first International Border Inspection Qualification training session for the maquiladora industry in Hermosillo, capital of the Mexican state of Sonora.

“Expanding to maquiladoras demonstrates that our partners in Mexico see as much value in this safety training as we do,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “Interest from the maquiladora industry also means the safety and economic benefits we have seen in this program’s first year will multiply.”

Maquiladora factories import certain material and equipment without duties or tariffs. Goods are assembled, processed or manufactured using that material and then returned to the U.S. The industry employs about 34,000 people in Sonora near the Arizona border.

ADOT’s Border Liaison Unit developed the International Border Inspection Qualification program to help make Arizona roads safer and to support international trade by training Mexican truck drivers and mechanics – in Mexico – about the safety regulations they must follow to drive on U.S. roads.

The 469 drivers who have completed the training since it began a little more than a year ago have crossed the border nearly 5,500 times but have had only 12 significant safety violations that required trucks to be stopped for repairs.

“Arizona is leading the nation in developing innovative ways to make our ports of entry safer and more efficient – it’s been a priority for Governor Ducey since day one,” said Juan Ciscomani, Senior Advisor for Regional and International Affairs to Governor Doug Ducey. “This kind of proactive approach implemented by ADOT and supported by the Arizona-Mexico Commission, under Governor Ducey’s leadership, drives Arizona’s border to move at the speed of business and supports international commerce in the state.”

Following Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance guidelines, which are the standard across the U.S., this training stems from ADOT’s use of the Arizona Management System championed by Governor Ducey to have all employees continuously improve state agencies’ value to their customers.

The Hermosillo session was the 18th held in Mexico since International Border Inspection Qualification training began in summer 2017.

The program also has expanded beyond locations near the Arizona border and Hermosillo, with training offered in Mexicali and Ensenada in Baja California and in Caborca, Sonora, at the request of trucking companies in those areas.

To learn more about ADOT’s Border Liaison Unit and International Border Inspection Qualification training, visit azdot.gov/BLU.

ADOT’s commercial truck safety course boosting efficiency and safety

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NOGALES – Drivers in Mexico who have completed innovative safety instruction offered by the Arizona Department of Transportation are proving far less likely to be flagged for safety violations when their vehicles arrive at international ports of entry.

It’s a dramatic improvement that’s saving international carriers time and money, making Arizona roads safer and helping Arizona better appeal to drivers who might otherwise use ports in California or Texas.

In December, the 106 drivers with International Border Inspection Qualification training who entered the U.S. through commercial ports operated by ADOT’s Enforcement and Compliance Division did so without a safety violation that required taking their trucks out of service for repairs.

Since August when the program began training drivers in Mexico, just two of 667 qualified drivers – 0.3 percent – have entered Arizona with a violation that required immediate repairs. The rate is about 5 percent among other commercial drivers using ADOT’s international ports.

Through ADOT’s International Border Inspection Qualification, the first such program in the U.S., Enforcement and Compliance Division inspectors made eight trips into Mexico in 2017 to educate international truck drivers and company leaders about safety requirements for trucks driving on Arizona roads. More training is scheduled in Mexico for 2018, including three sessions in February.

“This outstanding program has been great both for Arizona and for our neighbors in Sonora,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “In addition to making roads across Arizona safer, we are reducing inspection times and making Arizona’s international ports more appealing to commercial carriers.”

The class has the support of Sonora Gov. Claudia Pavlovich and Mexican trucking leaders.

ADOT inspectors check every commercial truck entering the U.S. at Nogales, Douglas and San Luis for safety violations. The most serious violations require that trucks remain at the port of entry until repairs can be made, a costly process that can cause significant delays for commercial carriers.

In addition, drivers who complete the International Border Inspection Qualification can use the Whats App smartphone app to contact inspectors with questions before they approach the border. That allows companies to make needed repairs more economically before drivers get on the road.

Another benefit of the program: More drivers are choosing to enter the U.S. through Arizona’s ports instead of those in other states. Meanwhile, being able to focus on higher-risk vehicles has allowed ADOT officers to find more violations despite needing to conduct fewer high-level inspections.

“More trucks entering the country in Arizona means an even greater boost to our economy,” Halikowski said. “Those drivers use more services and buy more items in our state, which helps not only border communities but all of Arizona.”

The International Border Inspection Qualification program stems from ADOT’s use of the Arizona Management System championed by Gov. Doug Ducey. This approach to continuous improvement empowers employees at state agencies to come up with innovative ways to better serve customers.

ADOT applies for TIGER grant to expand SR 189 project starting in 2019

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NOGALES ‒ The Arizona Department of Transportation has applied for a $25 million federal TIGER grant to allow construction of all proposed improvements to State Route 189 in Nogales at the same time, beginning in 2019.

The $25 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant would go toward construction of a southbound flyover ramp at Interstate 19 in addition to the northbound flyover ramp that’s currently funded, as well as a bridge over Frank Reed Road and other improvements to the 3.75-mile route connecting the Mariposa Port of Entry with I-19.

“ADOT is committed to working creatively with the community to accelerate State Route 189 improvements and better support trade between the U.S. and Mexico,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “Seeking this TIGER grant is one way we’re seeking to move forward sooner with all proposed enhancements to a route vital to international commerce and to the community of Nogales.”

ADOT currently has funding for the first phase the project, which includes a flyover ramp connecting northbound SR 189 and northbound I-19, along with other improvements. A $25 million commitment from the Arizona Legislature signed by Governor Doug Ducey allowed ADOT to begin construction in 2019, two years earlier than originally planned.

Funding isn’t currently identified for Phase Two, which would include the southbound flyover ramps and a bridge that would carry SR 189 over Frank Reed Road, which leads to Nogales High School. ADOT, Nogales and Santa Cruz County are coordinating efforts on a partnership that could include funding for the Phase Two work.

By allowing construction of both phases to begin at the same time, the TIGER grant would reduce the estimated cost of the full project from $147 million to $134 million.

A $15 million TIGER grant is helping to fund work on the SR 347 bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad tracks in Maricopa, which will begin in November. Another TIGER grant of $21.6 million went toward the rehabilitation of Virgin River Bridge No. 6 on Interstate 15 in far northwestern Arizona.

Since 2009, Congress has dedicated nearly $5.1 billion in TIGER grants to fund projects that have a significant impact on the nation, a region or a metropolitan area.

ADEQ to play host to Hazardous Waste Workshop for Nogales

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PHOENIX – Arizona Department of Environmental Quality officials announced today that a free hazardous waste workshop for residents of Nogales and the surrounding area will be conducted on Thursday, Dec. 11 from 8 a.m. until noon in Council Chambers of Nogales City Hall, 777 N. Grand Ave.

The session will cover Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and hazardous waste regulations, hazardous waste generator statutes, common hazardous wastes by auto repair facilities, what to expect when you are inspected, top 10 most common hazardous waste violations, and the new ADEQ hazardous waste inspection checklist. Workshop materials will be available in both English and Spanish.

Free parking is available at the site. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP with Eder Delgadillo of ADEQ at delgadillo.eder@azdeq.gov or (602) 771-4851.

“Workshops like these are a good collaboration between ADEQ and businesses to protect public health and teach the proper documentation for handling hazardous waste,” said ADEQ Director Henry Darwin. “We encourage everyone to attend who could benefit from this session.”