FHWA Nominee Seeks ‘Balance’ on Truck-Weight Issue

WASHINGTON — President Obama’s nominee to head the Federal Highway Administration told a Senate panel he considers it important to look for “balance” in debating truck size limits.

At his confirmation hearing Tuesday, Victor Mendez faced questions from the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on size limits, the role of the federal government in setting transportation policy and the status of the federal highway trust fund.

Mendez — the former head of the Arizona Department of Transportation — told senators that he felt the federal government should take a leadership role in setting transportation policy and that addressing the looming deficit in the Highway Trust Fund would be an early priority for him if confirmed.

Both Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and James Inhofe (R-Okla.), the chairwoman and ranking minority member of the EPW panel, gave strong indications Mendez would be confirmed easily.