Robin Hutcheson, the Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), is set to resign from her position effective Jan. 26, 2024. After her departure, Sue Lawless, the FMCSA’s Executive Director and Chief Safety Officer, will step into the role of acting deputy administrator.
Hutcheson, who joined the Biden-Harris administration in January 2021, took over as FMCSA administrator in September 2022, succeeding Meera Joshi, who left the agency in December 2021 after a brief tenure.
“It has been the most profound honor to serve in the Biden-Harris Administration, and I am grateful to President Biden for appointing me to these roles,” Hutcheson said. “I thank Secretary Buttigieg for his leadership and confidence and recognize the dedicated team of professionals at the Department of Transportation who work hand in hand with industry partners to serve the American people and keep our country moving forward.”
Throughout her three-year term, Hutcheson initially served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Safety Policy within the Office of the Secretary before assuming the role of FMCSA administrator. The FMCSA released a statement which highlighted Hutcheson’s significant accomplishments, including her efforts in addressing the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in air and ground transportation, leading the development of the National Roadway Safety Strategy, contributing to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and securing substantial funding, including for the Safe Streets for All program.
“As FMCSA Administrator, Hutcheson focused on the safety of commercial motor vehicle drivers to improve safety outcomes and strengthen the supply chain,” the statement reads. “She took numerous regulatory actions to enhance roadway safety, improve quality of life for drivers, leverage technology and innovation to improve safety, increase the impact of FMCSA grant dollars in communities across the country, and promote transparency across the industry. Hutcheson was a fierce champion for women in the transportation industry and a committed partner to stakeholders.”
In response to the announcement, the American Trucking Associations (ATA) also issued a statement.
“Administrator Hutcheson led FMCSA through a critical time as the pandemic, natural disasters, workforce shortages and supply chain disruptions challenged the freight economy in ways never seen before. America’s trucking industry is the heartbeat of this nation, and we depend on partners in government like Administrator Hutcheson who value data and stakeholder input to meet real-world needs and ensure the safe movement of freight across our nation’s highways. We applaud her communication, transparency and commitment to ATA and our members, and we wish her well in her future endeavors.”
David Heller, Senior Vice President of Safety and Government Affairs for the Truckload Carriers Association, expressed gratitude to Hutcheson for her contributions.
“Administrator Hutcheson’s service to our industry provided us with a partnership at the federal level so that we could advance safety performance and principals in a manner that benefitted all who traveled along our nation’s roadways,” Heller said. “The value she placed on industry involvement by engaging and communicating with our members continues to be viewed as the optimum approach towards understanding the enormity of the trucking business and the effects of rules and regulations that are placed on it. On behalf of all the members of the Truckload Carriers Association, we wish Administrator Hutcheson the best of luck in her future endeavors.”
Debbie Sparks, Executive Director of the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, also extended appreciation for Hutcheson’s efforts during her tenure.
“We thank Robin for her service and her commitment to improving highway safety, both the general motoring public and truck drivers,” Sparks said. “Further, we hope that FMCSA continues to further their regulatory agenda without pause, and we look forward to working with acting Deputy Administrator Sue Lawless on important issues for NFMTA members.”
Source: The Trucker
Image: FMCSA
