Senate Committee Advances Darling’s FMCSA Nomination
Scott Darling’s nomination to lead the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration was easily advanced by the Senate Commerce Committee on March 3.
Senators did not debate Darling’s qualifications or key policies as they reported him to the full Senate by a simple voice vote during a meeting to consider legislation related to broadband wireless service. The full Senate’s consideration of his nomination is likely to occur in the spring.
Darling, the agency’s acting administrator, was nominated by President Obama in August to the administrator role. He was the agency’s general counsel.
Prior to FMCSA, Darling was deputy chief of staff and assistant general counsel at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. The public transit agency services the greater Boston area.
American Trucking Associations President Bill Graves said the trade federation is “pleased that Mr. Darling’s nomination will now go to the full Senate.”
“Scott has signaled his strong commitment to highway safety, and partnering with the trucking industry to further improve professional driver and truck safety. We look forward to his confirmation and to continuing our working relationship,” Graves told Transport Topics shortly after the committee’s vote.
At his confirmation hearing in January before the Commerce Committee, Darling affirmed the agency intended to advance myriad regulations and proposals regarding safety during the coming months. Speaking specifically of FMCSA’s proposed safety fitness determination rule, Darling told senators the proposal would help clarify which carriers would be deemed suitable to operate.
“It will be clearly beneficial to them,” he said.
But Darling’s take on the agency’s upcoming agenda raised concerns among key senators, such as Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), in January. Fischer said she would prefer to have FMCSA’s leadership focused on advancing provisions in the FAST Act 2015 highway law. Also, other Commerce Committee members have expressed concerns over a suspension of aspects of an hours-of-service rule for truckers, as well as safety performance scores the agency removed from public view upon the FAST Act’s enactment.
Advancing Darling’s nomination to the floor suggests that Senate Republican leaders are willing to respond to the regulatory environment at the agency. The Republican-led Senate recently confirmed the Obama administration’s picks to lead other subagencies at the Department of Transportation, such as the Federal Railroad Administration and the Federal Highway Administration.
