Government to Buy EOBRs for Mexican Trucks

I saw this a few days ago when it was revealed but had not commented until now.  My first reaction was what a disgrace.  How can our tax dollars be used to fund Electronic On Board Recorders (EOBR) on Mexican trucks when US trucking companies are making the investment themselves?  Further, what is the point of this and how will it be managed?

I just read Brian Straight's article over at Fleet Owner titled Tax Dollars Wasted on Mexican Truck EOBRs and there was a bit of a different spin here.  Could this provision be a "poison pill" placed into the agreement by the US Government knowing it will cause huge outcry?  While that is possible, I do not give them that much credit.   I really believe someone in our Government thought this would help the cause by showing how we will be able to track these trucks.  The enforcement just seems massive and the costs outrageous.

In the end, I do not think we will see many of these trucks coming across the border as it is just too complicated.  But, time will tell and if the American trucking industry gets out of hand in terms of cost and low capacity, I suppose this will become our relief valve.