MartinezThe three most prominent trucking industry trade groups have signaled their intent to work with Raymond P. Martinez on trucking’s most pressing issues should he be confirmed by the Senate to run the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
President Donald Trump this week announced his intent to nominate Martinez for the post. Martinez is a longtime bureaucrat who has run the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission since 2010. He’s held other government jobs prior, including some in Washington, D.C.
He has little experience dealing directly with the trucking industry. The American Trucking Associations, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association and the Truckload Carriers Association have congratulated Martinez on the nomination and said they intend to work with the Washington’s chief trucking regulator.
“As the NYSDMV Commissioner, Ray Martinez proved to be a fair regulator, working to continually improve the safety of the trucking industry without implementing unnecessary or burdensome regulations,” said Kendra Hems, president of the Trucking Association of New York. “He always made the safety of the motoring public his top priority, and I am confident that he will continue that focus as the FMCSA Administrator.”
Likewise, ATA President Chris Spear congratulated Martinez, saying he “exudes the kind of professionalism, integrity and focus on safety that FMCSA needs.”
David Heller, vice president of government affairs for the Truckload Carriers Association said, “We look forward to working with Mr. Martinez on important industry wide safety initiatives and will rely upon his experience and leadership to aid in improving the safety record of this great industry.”
The Owner Operators Independent Drivers Association’s Executive Vice president Todd Spencer said, “If confirmed, we look forward to working with him to redirect the agency’s focus to encourage and support smart safety decisions for drivers while eliminating the bureaucratic clutter that too often obscures serious safety issues. We look forward to introducing the new administrator to some of the real safety experts — drivers who count their safe miles by the millions.”
