Reagle Breaks Silence

George Reagle has stood silently on the sidelines this year as lawmakers, government auditors, the National Transportation Safety Board and highway safety advocates said the agency he oversaw for five years was partially to blame for a 20% increase in truck-related road deaths.

In an exclusive interview with Transport Topics, the former head of the Office of Motor Carriers responded publicly for the first time to the criticism lodged against him between February and May during six congressional hearings, a three-day NTSB session and numerous press conferences.

“While people could argue about my methods to reach a goal, no one could question my integrity in trying to reach that goal,” Reagle said. “Whatever I did, my intent was to make the program better.”

Reagle said he was following congressional and presidential mandates to reduce the regulatory burden on industry and cooperate with business. However, critics, including his own staff, said he went to extremes in switching OMC’s emphasis from enforcement to education and outreach.

A survey of OMC inspectors by Department of Transportation auditors over the winter found low morale and a belief that the agency wasn’t doing a good enough job of enforcing safety regulations.

“The pendulum has swung too far toward partnering,” Julie Cirillo, Reagle’s replacement as trucking’s chief regulator, said in April (4-19, p. 1).

For the full story, see the August 16 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.