Trucking is a highly regulated industry. So when truckers run into issues with regulations – as they sometimes do – the people who implemented the regulations are often blamed. It’s common in our comments section and in our forum to see drivers bemoaning that regulators are creating new rules without actually knowing what it’s like to be a trucker. And it turns out; they’re right.
According to a report from Business Insider, there has never been an FMCSA Administrator that has been a professional driver. In the nearly two decades that the agency has existed, no Administrator has even had a CDL.
Business Insider points out that the FMCSA Administrators’ lack of real-world experience doing the thing that they are now regulating is unusual. The current acting administrator for the FAA had been pilot in the US Air Force and US Air Force Reserve before flying for American Airlines for 16 years. The previous Federal Railroad Administrator was a commuter passenger conductor and a yard switchman. US Maritime Administrator, Rear Adm. Mark H. Buzby, served in the US Navy for 34 years.
Of the top executive spots currently at the agency, there isn’t anyone who has sat in a driver’s seat. The only one who ever worked at a trucking company seems to be FMCSA Chief Counsel Jim Mullen. He used to be the executive vice president and general counsel for Werner Enterprises.
Source: businessinsider
Shogun says
I think we all are expecting this to be the case. All political favors nominated to be over the FMCSA and DOT. This is pretty much the norm. These idiots can barely spell their name but get these jobs. It’s not the least bit surprising, to be honest.
Harley says
I agree Shogun! never TRUST The Government! Then “THEY” (Meaning the Government and others!) wonder why there’s so many problems in Trucking? Duh !
Max says
You just can’t know how shocked I’m not by this revelation.
Caboverpete says
and the women over the DOT married to McConnell.. she knows everything about trucking with a net worth of 24 mil. from being a driver for how long now?… umm, never!
Ks says
And poorly educated. This is why they put people in so much danger.
Michael Sutton says
Mainly because, no self respecting driver wants to be a politician.
Harley says
AMEN!!!!!
Percheron1 says
“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.”
— Plato
Trishlm says
Maybe that’s the problem. The country needs someone with drivers experience to be in charge not these rich, feet on the desk kicked back , rich dummies but someone who really understands what the job is like
Steve says
This should be a requirement to get one of these jobs driven a truck for 10 years
Steven West says
First off I should be hired for the job got over 35 years over the road and 40 years of trucking.The trucking industry needs a real person calling the shoots that been there.Ran 4 log books had 3 different licenses ran 48 and local.And hauled it all from race horses to heavy equipment.Been there done that.And dispatched and turned the wrench to doing tires
Sara says
Your hired Driver you have lots of experience Overly Qualified but your Hired
Donald Mickunas says
You do know that what you just admitted to was a total disrespect for the rule of law. Who would want someone who illegally ran 4 log books in charge of making rules that he himself violated? No right thinking person would agree to it. However, you would stand a good chance in this Topsy tervy world.
David Laverty says
It to no surprise that a government agency has people running it with no real job experience. They show up at 8am, writing regulations that look good in theory pat each other on the back walk out the door at 4pm and tell each other what a great job were doing because. And the cycling never ends.
Vanya Kouveli says
Yes, very well said
Jesse Chapman says
This guy from Werner never drove only set in a top position with the company and now we know where all the bull is coming from.
I’m not a union person, but all the drivers out here we have to pull together or they are going to keep running us like cattle.
We can continue crying and do nothing or we can bring the house down on them.
Men and women out here a way from home long periods at a time running on these terms, let’s put a stop to it, we can set the terms, but we have too pull as one not all in different directions.
I have been out on the road now for 28 years and I have watched how the rules of service have changed just like all of you have. I’ve set in truck stops and listen to drivers always complain about this and that, but never wanting to do anything about the problem.
I see everything y’all write here. But what have y’all done about it. Nothing from what I have seen. Just blowing hot air.
Get up off your dead butts and let’s fix’s this problem we have. Stop complaining and become part of the solution.
To tell the truth, when you talk about the people in control saying things about them not knowing what they are doing, guess what, they know exactly what they are doing, they are keeping us all under the thumb.
Just something to think about. But as always you would rather complain than do anything about the problem. Let’s put a driver in office, someone that knows what goes on out here. That’s all we need. Ha!
Jesse Chapman says
Well enough said now y’all can go back to crying and complaining. Have a good day. The rancher is putting out the feed and all the good cattle should go to the feed. See y’all around.
Isabella Kirby says
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
J0hn.Z NewLine J472 says
This doesn’t surprise me at all. I wonder how many of them could pass a CDL test let alone operate a class A rig. SAFELY!
Just another sign of a broken system.
J0hn.Z NewLine J472 says
I concur with your post whole heartedly.
But the problem remains … So how do we feasibly and effectively unite.
Gwin says
Hey! Here’s an idea! I’ve held a CDL since 1998. I have many miles under my belt; OTR, tanker, reefer, line haul, mega carrier and small fleet experience. I also have 3 college degrees, including a MAT with Honors and a year of law school. I’ve served as an officer on many non-profit boards. I’m also a gay girl so we even have that “inclusivity” and “diversity” thing covered. And I’m FUNNY! LOL! Let ME run for FMCSA office! Let’s get ‘er done!
Jim smith says
It’s like someone that doesn’t know how to cook telling a chef how to make a cake
Noble says
Well imagine that….no one driver I know ever thought they had!
Harley says
Ain’t THAT The TRUTH!!! Especially their “Bonehead” Trainers! I know! I used to work there for the “old” North East DG Acct.
AnotherPOV says
Ha!
Snowflake says
Its been hard to tell who is the trainer and who is the student. Since Jan I’ve been woken up twice from being hit in the side of trailer.
Jeffrey says
Those that can’t teach. In this case manager and control.
What ever happened to; crawl, walk, run?
The more experienced of us would best be used as advisors and trouble shooter’s.
Hint, hint, to those who read and don’t follow your own rules.
We are not happy.
Sean says
And we are supposed to be shocked by this????
Kevin Chevalier says
No really!! like we didn’t know, the ICC was a more hands on organization
unlike their successors the FMCSA this organization is based on gathered information bought and paid for through outside companies who do not
have your best interest in mind, there’s no research and development only
what they think should work, I guess their leaning what trial and error is
about what works on paper doesn’t necessarily work in the real world.
Mike says
Kevin Chevalier congress abolished the ICC which controlled rates not necessarily safety. The Bureau of Motor Carrier Safety (BMC) has been around since 1936 until 1966 as part of the ICC. In 1966 BMC became the Office of Motor Carrier Safety (OMC) under the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) until congress made the FMCSA its own agency 01/01/2000. I was hired by the OMC 10/1999 in Springfield, IL.
Federal truck safety rules were first issued in 1936 by the Bureau of Motor Carriers, a division of the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC).
When the DOT was established on October 15, 1966, the ICC’s regulatory authority over truck and bus safety was transferred to DOT, delegated to FHWA and designated the Office of Motor Carrier Safety.
https://cms.dot.gov/transition/fmcsa-understanding-federal-motor-carrier-safety-administration
ICC regulations are still part of the FMCSR primarily in Part 379 for household goods movers.
When congress abolished the ICC it removed the restrictions imposed by a motor carrier’s authority. If congress had not abolished the ICC there’s no way the trucking industry could have expanded to accommodate the growth of America.
Sarge says
Well, imagine that, they are just another freeloading, bottom feeder, who wants to coast through life on the backs of hard working Americans and then tell US how a bear shits in the woods!
FMCSA is NOTHING more than the headquarters of con artists and extortionists, pimping the American Trucker like a whore on dollar night!
They are as useless as teats on a turtle and desperately need put back in their place!
Trishlm says
I totally agree. Also very well put
jACK says
It doesn’t matter all the crying, complaining and pointing out necessary changes. The time for bla, bla, bla has long past. Only one thing can bring immediately changes do way we want and the way it should be….
SHUT THE TRUCKING BUSINESS DOWN!!…EVERYBODY TAKE A FREACKING 10 DAYS VACATION ! THE DOT, GOV. AGENCIES, MEGACARRIES…THE ARE EMPTY HANDED, BLUFFING..THEY GOT NOTHING. ITS MORE THAN TIME TO SHOW TIS PEOPLE WHOM HOLDS THE LONG STICK!
Michael Kitts says
I have a comment. Why is it these big Trucking company’s like P&S, Swift, ect are putting cameras looking in on there driver’s! Seems like all they worry about anymore is what there driver’s are doing. Then a few company’s like Swift is doing to different drug screening test. A pee test an hair test. What are these big company’s trying too do. Looks like they don’t want anyone driving for them..
Mike says
https://www.joc.com/trucking-logistics/clapp-promotion-completes-realignment-roadway_19870813.html
https://www.joc.com/regulation-policy/clapp-leaving-fmcsa_20021201.html
The first FMCSA Administrator was Joseph Clapp an executive of Roadway. Looks like the author missed the mark.
Vanya Kouveli says
Since the “white collar” agents of the corporations realized there is money in trucking, they decided to get the big slices of the cake having NO idea what they are dealing with. Ridiculous
Vanya Kouveli says
An additional comment: in European Union and my country Greece the police officers who want to drive a police cab need to get a CDL! My son did get it. To be noted: the cabs have 6 speed, ok? Here nobody has a clue, police officers, DOT officers, FMCSA are just wheel holders, let alone have a CDL and know how to manouvre , drive and park a rig. Then they want to have an opinion and make the rules of the game. If they cared about SAFETY, they would have broadcast on the TV educating the public HOW to behave around trucks