The U.S. Department of Transportation recently announced that Mexican trucks would be allowed to operate throughout the United States under its pilot program as long as U.S. trucking companies have equal access south of the border, according to Bloomberg.

The announcement means that DOT is ready to resume the pilot program that was blocked by Congress last month, Bloomberg said.

According to the DOT, a limited number of trucks and trucking companies that operate in the current U.S. border zone would be given wider access to the United States under the program. The program is currently being reviewed by DOT’s inspector general at Congress’ request.

Congress has demanded equal access to Mexico for U.S. trucking companies, and the Federal Register notice by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said the project “will not commence until such reciprocity is provided.” FMCSA is part of DOT.

The House recently voted to block the Bush administration’s planned pilot program, limiting visiting trucks to the current border-area zone in part due to safety concerns.

Labor and safety groups also have criticized the plan. In May the House voted 411-3 to impose more restrictions on DOT’s plans to grant Mexican trucks access to U.S. highways.