The FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) finally has a new leader. Raymond Martinez was confirmed Tuesday by the U.S. Senate by a voice vote, almost five months after being nominated by President Trump.

Martinez most recently served as head of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. He also ran the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles in the past. Martinez was Deputy U.S. Chief of Protocol and Diplomatic Affairs for the U.S. Department of State and the White House. He served under Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. Also, he served as assistant general counsel for the Long Island Power Authority, and as deputy chief of staff and special counsel to the New York State Attorney General.

A major CDL training organization praised Martinez’s confirmation.

“We applaud the Senate’s confirmation of Mr. Martinez as the FMCSA’s Administrator. We look forward to working with Administrator Martinez on issues affecting commercial driving schools, the growing truck driver shortage, and automated commercial vehicles,” said Don Lefeve, Commercial Vehicle Training Association President and CEO.

FMCSA has been under the direction of Deputy Administrator Cathy Gautreaux. She spent 30 years as executive director of the Louisiana Motor Transport Association.

Martinez’s nomination was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee last November.