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Outgoing FMCSA Administrator Darling Appreciates Truckers

Outgoing FMCSA Administrator Darling Appreciates Truckers

Safe trucking is the โ€œlinchpinโ€ of the economy and needs to focus on promoting its image, said outgoing Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Administrator T.F. Scott Darling III in his final news conference Jan. 19.

โ€œIโ€™ve got a different image of truck and bus drivers [since coming to FMCSA], a different respect. Theyโ€™re truly professionals,โ€ Darling said. โ€œI want the industry to figure out how to tell that story. Iโ€™m going to be telling it every day. I appreciate everything they do, and the importance they have to this nation.โ€

With autonomous vehicles on the horizon, Darling said โ€œtrucks are not going anywhere,โ€ and he doesnโ€™t anticipate a significant shift in driver hours of service regulations any time soon. The aim will continue to be to have qualified, healthy and rested men and women driving vehicles that are โ€œup to standards.โ€

Darling was sentimental about his time at the agency, and several times got teary-eyed. He expressed he felt honoured to have served in President Obamaโ€™s administration.

As far as his advice to the next FMCSA Administrator, he says โ€œGet out there and talk to folks about issues and then come back and communicate thatโ€ to the powers that be. โ€œGet out there and be with your constituents.โ€

Darling joined the FMCSA in 2012 as chief counsel and spent two years as Administrator.