“The past is your lesson, the present is your gift and the future is your motivation.”
I’m writing my last column from Washington, D.C. after my first week as the Deputy Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. With my right hand on the family Bible, I freely took a formal oath of office and signed a pledge to defend the Constitution of the United States and faithfully discharge the duties of the office. So help me God.
The last few months have been a whirlwind. Ending a career with LMTA after 32 years was a challenge in and of itself, but starting a new career with the Federal government and moving to Washington, D.C.? Now, that’s something I didn’t anticipate would happen this late in my professional career!
The Past is Your Lesson. My tenure with LMTA introduced me to the trucking industry and taught me its history, its diversity, its unique challenges and above all else its importance to America. I witnessed the evolution of this industry through the fall of economic regulation, the transition to safety regulation and the arrival of technology that will greatly change the trucking industry as we know it. I will never forget the people who shared their challenges — both good and bad — over the years that provided me with the foundation for this new position.
The Present is Your Gift. As I find myself in the nation’s Capitol, I am awestruck with its beauty, it’s significance and its purpose. I have been given the opportunity to lead a modal administration inside the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) — using the experiences and knowledge that I gained while at LMTA. This opportunity is truly a gift and a challenge that I take very seriously.
The Future is Your Motivation. Having been in the position only five (5) days so far, I can truly say that I have reflected on my years at LMTA every single day. My inspiration is the men and women of the trucking industry — United States citizens who own and/or operate trucks. My goal is to provide them with a modal agency that understands their challenges and motivations, applies the regulations fairly and equitably and enforces the law without prejudice — all accomplished through a collaborative effort that is committed to ensuring and improving safety on our nation’s highways.
Saying goodbye to my friends in the trucking industry was hard.
I will never forget you.
Cathy Gautreaux
Deputy Administrator
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”
– A.A. Milne
