Senate confirms Sean Duffy as DOT Secretary

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed Sean Duffy to turn out to be the Secretary of Transportation. Duffy was confirmed by a 77-22 vote.

Sean Duffy was confirmed Tuesday to turn out to be the following Secretary of Transportation.Following his affirmation listening to earlier this month, the previous U.S. Consultant from Wisconsin was anticipated to obtain bipartisan assist, which he did with Tuesday’s vote. In the course of the earlier listening to, Duffy fielded questions from Senators on the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, promising to work with Congress to assist draft the following Floor Transportation Reauthorization bundle and far more.

Sam Graves, chairman of the Home Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, mentioned he is „assured that beneath the Secretary’s management we will enhance America’s infrastructure by focusing our investments on core tasks like roads and bridges, streamlining undertaking supply, and getting the Division again to the elemental missions of federal transportation applications — shifting individuals and items safely and effectively.“

[Related: Trump’s DOT Secretary nominee completes non-contentious committee hearing]

Following his affirmation Tuesday, trucking organizations additionally congratulated Duffy on his new submit.

American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear mentioned Tuesday’s “sturdy, bipartisan vote in favor of his nomination is an endorsement of his {qualifications} and expertise for this place. It additionally displays his dedication to unite stakeholders round commonsense insurance policies to make our transportation community safer and extra environment friendly.”

Spear added that in his time in congress, Duffy “was a steadfast supporter of hardworking truckers and the work that they do to ship the nation’s freight. We sit up for constructing on our partnership with Secretary Duffy within the years forward to modernize our infrastructure and improve the resiliency of our provide chain.”

Todd Spencer, president of the Proprietor-Operator Unbiased Drivers Affiliation, mentioned the group “look[s] ahead to proceed working with him in advancing the priorities of small enterprise truckers throughout America, together with increasing truck parking, combating freight fraud, and rolling again burdensome, pointless laws.”

In a letter of assist for Duffy earlier this month, Spencer mentioned throughout Duffy’s time as a consultant, he “demonstrated his curiosity in addressing regulatory burdens affecting small-business truckers,” together with signing a letter to the Federal Motor Service Security Administration expressing assist for an OOIDA petition to offer aid to small-business truck drivers from the digital logging system mandate. 

Truckload Carriers Affiliation President Jim Ward echoed ATA and OOIDA, noting that TCA „seems to be ahead to collaborating with Secretary Duffy and the Division of Transportation to advertise insurance policies that improve the security and effectivity of our nation’s highways.“

Amongst key points TCA is trying to advance are „superior security applied sciences like automated emergency braking methods, hair testing as an permitted methodology for drug screening within the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, and addressing the essential want for expanded truck parking amenities,“ Ward added. „These initiatives are very important for making certain freeway security and supporting the skilled progress of the trucking workforce, reflecting our deep appreciation for his or her important contributions.“

With Duffy’s affirmation full, it is doubtless that nominations for directors of DOT companies, such because the Federal Motor Service Security Administration, Federal Freeway Administration and others, shall be chosen within the coming days and weeks.

[Related: Time to put an owner-operator behind the wheel of FMCSA?]