WASHINGTON -- The U.S. House of Representatives has put the brakes on the Bush Administration pilot program for allowing 100 Mexican trucking companies access to U.S. highways.

The House passed the "Safe American Roads Act of 2007" by a whopping 411-3 margin. The bill suspends the current administration plan for giving Mexican trucks access to the U.S.

Instead, the House would only allow the border to open if a series of amendments are made, including limiting the pilot to three years for a total of 1,000 Mexican trucks, and setting up an independent review panel to oversee the program.

The panel could recommend modifications or termination of the program if it determines new guidelines aren't being followed.

Currently, most

Mexican trucks are limited to a 20-mile commercial zone on either side of the border. At that point they must interline with a domestic carrier, although many large U.S. companies own Mexican-based fleets.

Under the new bill, the program must pass muster with Congress, the U.S. Transportation Department inspector general and the independent panel.

Furthermore, it calls for more transparency from the USDOT.

The department would be required to disclose such information as safety records of Mexican trucking companies; standards for evaluating truck safety; carriers that are part of the program; mechanisms for enforcing trucking safety laws; and details on penalties for non-compliance.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, which has been fighting fiercely against the plan, said the bill includes "several sensible steps to rein in the Department of Transportation."

"The passage of this bill goes a long way toward injecting some sanity into a program that still has too many questions that have not been resolved," said OOIDA Executive Vice President Todd Spencer.