Martinez to step down as head of FMCSA

Washington — Citing a wish to be closer to his family, Raymond Martinez will step down as administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, although he will remain affiliated with the Department of Transportation, the DOT Office of Public Affairs announced Oct. 10.

Martinez joined FMCSA as administrator in February 2018 after serving as chair and chief administrator at the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. The New Jersey native will transition to oversee construction of DOT’s redeveloping John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center in Cambridge, MA.

An FMCSA spokesperson confirmed Martinez’s resignation will be effective Oct. 28. FMCSA Chief Counsel Jim Mullen, who will become the agency’s deputy administrator after Martinez leaves, is expected to be named acting administrator.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association applauded Martinez’s assistance and accessibility throughout his tenure, which included the advancement in rulemaking proceedings for a long-awaited proposed rule FMCSA claims would add flexibility to hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers.

FMCSA published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking in the Aug. 23, 2018, Federal Register; the proposed rule was published in the Aug. 22 Federal Register, and comments are due Oct. 21.