Transport Topics reported that The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration now has a full-time administrator for the first time in three years. The full United States Senate confirmed Robin Hutcheson as the agency’s administrator on Thursday. A unanimous consent vote was used to confirm her. Hutcheson was appointed deputy administrator in January and became acting administrator when then-acting administrator Meera Joshi resigned to join New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ administration. Hutcheson was nominated as FMCSA administrator by President Joe Biden in April. The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee approved her nomination in June.
Trucker News reported that FMCSA didn’t have a full-time administrator since Ray Martinez stepped down in October 2019. The job was since held by Jim Mullen, Wiley Deck, Joshi, and Hutcheson, each as acting administrator.
Two trucking organizations applauded the Senate’s decision. The Truckload Carriers Association President Jim Ward said, “Speaking on behalf of the association, I am pleased to see this confirmation come to fruition. In the short time that she has been there, the Administrator has demonstrated a passion for safety improvement and a willingness to engage with the industry. We are looking forward to working with her on truckload-related safety measures in the future.”
The American Trucking Associations’ President and CEO Chris Spear also praised Hutcheson’s confirmation as the FMCSA’s seventh administrator. “I want to congratulate Robin on her confirmation to this important role,” Spear said. “In her time as Acting Administrator, Robin has been a true partner with our industry – working to confront a number of issues facing trucking. Whether it is addressing safety concerns, ongoing supply chain issues or workforce development, she has been open to engaging with our industry and we look forward to continuing our ongoing, candid dialogue about these challenges and to engaging with her and her agency to implement solutions that uphold safety and improve efficiency in trucking and across the supply chain.”
Hutcheson previously worked for the U.S. Department of Transportation as the deputy assistant secretary for Safety Policy. Hutcheson has also worked as a transportation and transit consultant throughout the western United States, in London and France, and for the European Union Commission on Sustainability.
