WASHINGTON -- Transportation Secretary Mary Peters is urging Congress to allow Mexican trucks to continue driving deep into the U.S.

She warned Monday that halting the trucks would hurt the agricultural economy and other businesses.

The Bush administration began allowing Mexican trucks to ply U.S. roadways last year to comply with the North American Free Trade Agreement. But Congress stripped money for the project from the Department of Transportation last year.

Some groups oppose trucks’ entry fearing their drivers may compete ith U.S. drivers or their trucks are unsafe.