WASHINGTON, DC – Top trucking safety administrator Anne Ferro will step down next month from her post as chief of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). She has served as Administrator since 2009.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced Ferro’s departure “with great disappointment”: “Under Anne’s leadership, FMCSA has ushered in a new culture of safety into the commercial bus and trucking industries. She has made it more difficult for companies that jeopardize the public’s well-being to stay in business and easier for consumers to make informed choices when choosing a shipper or buying a bus ticket.

Ferro will become president and CEO of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators.

In a farewell message to agency staff, Ferro mentioned initiatives the agency has undertaken during her tenure, including greater accountability for companies and drivers, stronger oversight of high-risk carriers, better tools for law enforcement and more data for industry and the public.

“On a daily basis we have also recognized the significant contributions that commercial truck and bus drivers make to roadway safety and our nation’s economic vitality,” Ferro said.

She noted that she has highlighted the pressure drivers face because they are paid by-the-mile or load instead of their total time on-duty.

“We are seeking to change that compensation model so drivers receive fair wages for every hour they spend working – including time detained unloading and loading at the mercy of shippers and receivers,” she said.