U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta last week welcomed Joseph M. Clapp to the U.S. Department of Transportation as the first Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Clapp was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Sept. 26, despite objections from anti-truck safety group CRASH. The trucking industry has expressed support for Clapp, who has experience in the trucking industry.
"President Bush and Secretary Mineta have entrusted responsibility to me for leading truck and bus transportation to higher levels of safety and security. I am honored by their confidence in me and am proud for the opportunity to serve with Secretary Mineta and the men and women of FMCSA to help ensure safe motor carrier transportation for America," Clapp said.
He most recently served as the chairman of Roadway Services, Inc. Clapp > began his career in trucking as director of safety for Ryder Tank Line before joining Roadway Express in 1967.
Clapp served as chairman of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences, was a member of the Federal Highway Research Coordinating Committee, and was chairman of the Regular Common Carrier Conference and chairman of the American Trucking Associations Foundation. He is a three-time recipient of the Wall Street Transcript CEO Gold Award for the trucking industry.