Trucking industry backs confirmation of Ray Martinez to lead FMCSA

Chris Spear, president and CEO of American Trucking Associations, urged the Senate to “quickly confirm” Ray Martinez as head of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Martinez is chief administrator for the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.

“Mr. Martinez is well-known to our industry from his work in New Jersey and New York and exudes the kind of professionalism, integrity and focus on safety that FMCSA needs,” Spear said in a news release. “On behalf of ATA, I congratulate him on his nomination, and urge the Senate to quickly confirm him so we can begin working together on important highway safety issues.”

Gail Toth, executive director for the New Jersey Motor Truck Association, said Martinez, in his position as administrator for the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, “quickly earned a reputation for being hands-on and willing to work with the trucking industry to solve problems. Martinez brings with him the experience of leading the motor vehicle agencies of both New York and New Jersey — the ‘International Gateway to the Northeast,’ and his insight and experience will be an asset to the FMCSA. We look forward to working with him on a host of issues impacting the trucking industry.”

Before his position at the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, Martinez worked as commissioner of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Kendra Hems, president of the Trucking Association of New York said Martinez, in his position with the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, “proved to be a fair regulator, working to continually improve the safety of the trucking industry without implementing unnecessary or burdensome regulations. He always made the safety of the motoring public his top priority, and I am confident that he will continue that focus as the FMCSA Administrator.”