The Senate Commerce Committee confirmed Joseph M. Clapp as the first administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Moving quickly and decisively in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack, the committee accepted Clapp’s nomination without dissent. Confirmed at the same time was Marion Blakey as a member of the National Transportation Board, and Read Van der Water as assistant secretary of transportation.
Typically, such nominations face hearings with testimony from witnesses and questions by senators – conditions that can open the door to controversy. This time, though, the committee dispensed with these formalities in order to address the more compelling issue of aviation security. Led by chairman Fritz Hollings, D-S.C., and ranking minority member John McCain, R-Ariz., the committee simply accepted the nominations by acclamation.
Once the full Senate accepts the committee’s confirmation – a formality – Clapp will officially take the reins at the safety agency. He brings a background in trucking, safety and lobbying to the job. During his career at Roadway Express, where he rose to become chairman, he was active in industry safety affairs and served a turn as Roadway’s representative in Washington.
He has explained that he accepted President Bush’s nomination because he believes in the mission of the agency. “From past experience I know with certainty that there are quality people there who are applying themselves to make a positive difference. They deserve to be recognized for what they do,” he said in an interview earlier this year. “It would be a privilege to be associated with them in that effort.”
American Trucking Assns. interim president William Canary praised the confirmation. “At this critical time for all Americans, it is important to have a respected transportation professional at the wheel, leading the effort to keep our highways open and enabling us to continue safely moving the freight that America needs,” he said in a statement.