FMCSA’s Sue Lawless Praises Drivers’ Safety Focus
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INDIANAPOLIS — The nation’s top trucking regulator praised the skill and commitment to safety exhibited by competitors at the 87th annual National Truck Driving Championships during her first visit to the competition.
“I got to go around the course [and] see how hard this course is, and how much preparation goes into it,” said Sue Lawless, executive director and chief safety officer for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, during an Aug. 22 interview with Transport Topics at Indiana Convention Center, the event’s host venue.
“It’s just remarkable to me what these drivers can do. They’re doing all the things that as a safety agency we want them to do,” Lawless noted. “So it’s pretty nice to see them recognized for their professionalism. And it’s just been fun.”
That fun began while in transit to the event, Lawless added.
“When I was flying out here, there were families that were waiting to get on the plane with me and they had their little kids with them,” she said. “They were so excited about going to see the championships with their families. And their dad was studying; he had the [rules] book in his hand.”
2024 National Truck Driving Championships
Who: Winners from nine categories at the state level who have advanced to the national competition, where a Grand Champion will be crowned
What: Contestants are judged on a written exam, pre-trip inspection and driving skills
When: Aug. 21-24
Where: Indianapolis
This family wasn’t alone; a majority of competitors arrive with a family support system, as the thousands of family, friends and peers in attendance are as much a part of the competition as the drivers themselves.
Once on-site, Lawless was greeted by eight former national grand champions on-hand to cheer for colleagues and peers at the competition and promote the tournament’s festive energy. This year, more than 400 drivers are competing across nine classes.
“I’m just impressed by all the logistics that go into it, and how teamwork makes the dream work,” Lawless said. “And everybody’s prepared. It’s been amazing.”
The former grand champions and others who interacted with the FMCSA chief expressed gratitude for her attendance, as the presence of a federal transportation leader raises the profile for the precision-driving contest. It’s a level of interaction the agency wants to advance, Lawless told TT.
Two-time national grand champion Roland Bolduc shares a moment with Sue Lawless, FMCSA's executive director and chief safety officer. (John Sommers II for Transport Topics)
“We’re trying to get better at engaging with the drivers because we know that it begins and ends with the drivers,” she said. “If the drivers are happier — if the drivers make it home safely to their families — we are all going to be safe,” she said. “So it starts and ends with them. To be able to recognize them and support them and lift up the work that they do is very important to us as an agency.”
In an address to the drivers during a kickoff orientation, Lawless praised the competitors for setting a good example for others to follow.
Congratulations to all competing in this week’s @ATA National Truck Driving Championships & @CVSA North American Inspectors Championship in Indy. FMCSA’s Chief Safety Officer Sue Lawless is on the ground cheering you on. Thanks for your continued focus on safety. #Booth211 pic.twitter.com/Dp6SE1mayp — FMCSA (@FMCSA) August 21, 2024
“This is a great career,” Lawless said. “This is a great opportunity for you to make a career and make a life. It will be so helpful getting more safe drivers in this business.”
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