Editorial: Looking Forward to Norm Mineta at DOT

Testimony from Norman Y. Mineta during his confirmation hearing last week before a Senate panel on his appointment as President Bush’s transportation secretary contained much welcome news for trucking.

Mineta said that highway safety would be a top priority of his administration, and he promised to consider trucking’s concerns and issues as part of that goal. Too often in recent years the Department of Transportation has failed to look at trucking as a partner in the drive for improving safety, and we have reason to be hopeful that will now end.

	U.S. Dept. of Commerce
	Norman Y. Mineta

The new secretary also said he would re-examine DOT’s ill-conceived proposal to revise hours-of-service regulations for truck and bus drivers.

The industry mobilized last year and got Congress to table the implementation of DOT’s proposal, which would have had a disastrous impact on the financial health of the industry and which would have generated even more congestion on the nation’s roadways.

Mineta promised a full review of the proposal and said he would take into account the financial impact of any changes proposed to the work rules that govern trucking.

As we’ve been saying for years, a top-to-bottom overhaul of the more than 60-year-old hours-of-service regulations is certainly in order. But the new rules have to reflect advances in technology, equipment and roadways. And we know much more now than ever before about fatigue and human behavior.

But, most importantly, the new rules have to reflect the realities of the freight distribution network, to ensure that they lead to a safer and more efficient delivery system.

Mineta also said he would review the performance of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration over its first year of operation — he will be making key appointments to the agency in coming weeks.

There is reason to believe Mineta will have a leg up in that process: He was a member of an ad-hoc panel that recommended the creation of FMCSA, to give trucking a higher-profile modal administration to oversee safety issues, such as already existed for railroads, aviation and the maritime industry.

Mineta’s experience in trucking matters, his track record of cooperation and reasonableness bode well for the Department of Transportation, two traits that were in short supply at times in recent years.

That his nomination was approved 100 to 0, and before he even finished testifying, is testament to the mandate with which he enters his new office. We look forward to working with Secretary Mineta to make the nation’s freight delivery system even better over the years to come.