PRESIDENT BUSH'S PLAN TO OPEN THE BORDER TO LONG-HAUL TRUCKS FROM MEXICO IS GOING INTO EFFECT THURSDAY.

     THE ROLL-OUT IS PART OF THE 1994 'NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT' THAT OPPONENTS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING EVER SINCE AND THEY BELIEVE SAFETY, JOBS AND THE OVERALL U.S. TRUCKING INDUSTRY WILL SUFFER FROM THIS.

"And you know they're going to do the same thing the Canadians are doing.  They're going to drop their load off.  It's supposed to be international runs but they're going to drop their load off pick up another one, run that somewhere else in the United States before they go back to Mexico.  I don't think it's a good idea at all, not with the condition those trucks are in," Truck driver, Sean Trophan said.

          THE PLAN HAD SUFFERED A SETBACK IN AUGUST WHEN THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION RELEASED A REPORT INDICATING THAT BETTER LAW ENFORCEMENT AND MORE SAFEGUARDS ARE NEEDED BEFORE THE BORDER IS OPENED TO MORE TRUCKS.