Trucking Industry Lobbyist Nominated To Lead Vehicle Safety Agency

The Associated Press reports that President Obama's nominee to head the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has come under scrutiny for her work as a lobbyist for the trucking industry.

Anne Ferro, who served as the president and CEO of the Maryland Motor Truck Association, said Wednesday at her Senate confirmation hearing, "My passion is highway safety."

But Ferro has been called "an apologist for the trucking industry" in a statement from the Truck Safety Coalition, and New Jersey Sen. Frank Lautenberg said he had reservations that her work as a lobbyist would prevent her from reforming the FMCSA.

From the Associated Press:

"Given your ties, Ms. Ferro, to the trucking industry ... I am concerned about your ability to take the bold action we need to keep Americans safe," Lautenberg said.

-- Jenna Staul

Comments

[TruckerDesiree]

My Personal experience with the Trucking Industry this past two year has proven to me that they are swiching gears to USE Women in Key Positions because it is the 'IN" thing to do but these are still paid spokepeople who care about the Trucking Industry interests NOT Highway Safety.

The Dan Rather Interview I just did shows how eager the ATA is to discredit anyone who speaks against them, even when Highway Safety is the recipient of their greed.

[nice2blucky]

Isn't Obama ... wasn't Obama ... doesn't Obama

It all leads to disappointment. Or in this case, appointment.

[Helzapoppin]

Geez. . Obama isn't even trying anymore, is he?

[demomntgirl]

Well hey we could use Bush's plan...
let Mexican trucks come into the U.S. with unlicensed drivers..
no log books...no time limits on how much they can drive...
and no DOT inpsections of these trucks...just let 'em roll!!
Now,,that was a plan for highway safety!

[mergina]

Another OBAMA LIE. Another OBAMA FAILURE. Behold your fearless leader, owned by oh so many corporate masters.

[Truby]

Conflict?

[nopilikia]

So much for change.

[dadw5boys]

Did you apply ?

Got the knowledge of the trucking industry ?

Drivers know what works andwaht does not. They will complain if she does not do a good job !

[Trittydi]

Well - Obama wasn't my first choice - so I'm not as disappointed as I might have been.
*

[Graywolf48]

Hopefully, she's paid her income taxes; has anybody checked? It's all just a dirty little game of musical chairs in Washington. From Senator to high paid lobbying job, from lobbying job to government regulator. Yep, the best government money can buy. Sure wish I could afford to play.

[EHarold]

Once again the fox is guarding the hen house. Awesome, you might as well stick a Meth fiend in charge of anti drug policy.

[dadw5boys]

That might work. Drug policy so failure !!!!

[lightningbolt]

It is becoming more clear each day who Obama works for. Private campaign finance must be made illegal.

[dadw5boys]

GO AND APPLY FOR THE JOBS !!! IF YOUR QUAILIFED .

[lightningbolt]

I'm not qualified nor do I want to work for the government. But I do know of many other people who would be qualified instead of lobbyists.

[Opti]

Colossal fail!
The trucking industry is one of our most important and most vulnerable industries. Almost all of our goods are transported by truck and trucks have access to urban areas that the 9/11 hijackers could only dream of. What we need is a person who will push for background checks on drivers and then support the ones who qualify instead of siding with the companies at the expense of national security and safety. Our resources, our economy, and our safety depend on this.

From the NY Times: "Ms. Ferro’s record, we believe, is disqualifying. With more than 5,000 fatal truck crashes a year, Americans cannot afford conflicts of interest in the running of their truck safety agency."
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/opinion/23wed3.html?_r=2&adxnnl=1&ref=opinion&adxnnlx=1253708375-7/5RTtibXKPqzEY5pol7Jg

From the Truck Safety coalition: "Unfortunately, Ms. Ferro has been an apologist for the failure of FMCSA to improve the safety record of motor carriers."
http://www.trucksafety.org/

There is no way to justify this appointment.

[SpaghettyIrish]

Most fatal truck crashes are the result of 4 wheelers doing something stupid and/or ignoring the 40 tons of 65-70 MPH as they maneuver to get someplace 5 seconds sooner.

[No1TrainedChimp]

Absolutely correct!

[Opti]

I agree 100%. But that doesn't mean truckers don't deserve an advocate and it doesn't mean that this nomination is good for the industry or the nation. Given how vital trucking is to every aspect of our life in this country, I am really disturbed that the President picked Ms. Ferro to head the FMCSA. It does him no credit.

[hoopesaz]

Clearly he overpromissed. It's virtually impossible to keep lobyists out of key positions...they often tend to be the experts in the field which is why they are lobbyists in the first place.

[DUSAA-1775]

well put... perhaps Wilson should have yelled 'you overpromise"

[quiviran]

What has happened. Barrack, we hardly know you.

[deltalady]

Don't worry, guys. You won't have 18 wheelers running you off the road because we supposedly have a trucking lobbyist in the Cabinet. The truth is, truckers don't have representation anymore than any other worker. We've watched our industry devastated in the last decade, going from strongfreight rates & cheap fuel to $4 per gal diesel, huge increases in tolls, ins, & taxes. Trucking provided a wonderful living for me for 15 years, but once Bush came into office, we started to lose. I've heard grown men cry that they're losing their truck AND their home because many truckers literally live in their trucks. We're inundated w/foreign trucks- not just Mexican drivers, but a huge influx of Middle Eastern drivers w/well-funded companies who take advantage of the generous tax breaks that the US govt gives them. Everyone just assumes that we're all toothless, ignorant rednecks, but we're not. We're like every American worker who've watched our livelihood disappear while our so-called reps sell us out..the American Trucking Association? The teamsters? Please. Most truckers don't fall under the representation of either. We're the little guy who bore the brunt of the high fuel prices that Bush allowed & which Obama could care less about. He's an urban guy who wouldn't know how to talk to a truck driver much less have any concern about them. And drivers came out in droves to vote for Obama, and what has he done for us? NOTHING!

[pantherburns]

Good post. Sometimes we forget that not everyone fits into the pigeonholes we make. Hope you have better times ahead. Good luck.