White House Sends Ferro Nomination to Senate

Anne S. Ferro's nomination to be head of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is in the hands of the Senate, moving her closer to a confirmation hearing.

President Obama on June 4 tapped the head of Maryland’s top trucking advocacy group, the Maryland Motor Truck Association, to run the Department of Transportation’s truck safety agency.

Ferro has been president of the MMTA since 2003. Before that, she spent 11 years with the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, first as an assistant administrator and then administrator of the state agency.

Her nomination prompted a protest from the Teamsters union, marking a rare split between organized labor and the Obama administration.

The union cited her support for the FMCSA's latest hours-of-service rules for truck drivers.

Trucking groups praised the nomination, noting her service both a business advocate and as a regulator.

If confirmed, Ferro would take the reins at FMCSA from Acting Deputy Administrator Rose A. McMurray.

Contact William B. Cassidy at wcassidy@joc.com.