The Senate has confirmed John H. Hill as the Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Hill must be sworn in before he officially becomes the new FMCSA head; no date for that has been announced.
The confirmation of Hill may bring stability to FMCSA’s tumultuous state of leadership in 2006. The agency earlier this year saw its top two chiefs resign within seven weeks—former Administrator Annette M. Sandberg left her post March 31; and Deputy Administrator Warren Hoemann quit on May 13. Neither gave a reason for their departure.
Now the agency is headed by Acting Administrator David H. Hugle, a position he’s held since May 30. Hugle will retain his post as Deputy Administrator once Hill is sworn in.
President Bush approved of Hill’s appointment as Chief Safety Officer in June 2003. Prior to his selection, Hill was a member of the Indiana State Police (ISP) from 1974-2003, where he served as the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division Commander from 1989 to 1994 and from 2000 to 2003. Hill commanded the ISP's Field Enforcement and Logistics Divisions after being appointed to the rank of Major in 1988.
See Sandberg resigns or FMCSA No. 2 resigns
In a previous interview with FleetOwner, Hill renewed the agency’s pledge to create a driver-focus to slash truck crash fatality rates as well as gave an update on rulemakings.
