Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration in all but name for the past year, T.F. Scott Darling III has been nominated to fill that vacant appointment by President Obama.

Currently holding the title of chief counsel of FMCSA, Darling had been referred to as the agency’s acting administrator from the time former Administrator Anne Ferro departed the post last August until late in March. At that time, the Department of Transportation announced that Darling’s acting title was “ending,” but added that Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx had delegated him, as chief counsel, with “responsibility for performing the duties of the FMCSA administrator.”

“Through strong and effective management as chief counsel and acting administrator of FMCSA, Scott has already demonstrated his ability to lead the Agency,” said Foxx in a statement issued Wednesday.

“He is committed to making our roads safer for motorists, passengers, and professional truck and bus drivers, and is constantly working with all sides to find solutions to challenges facing the industry and the motoring public,” he continued. “As administrator, FMCSA will continue to benefit from his years of leadership and experience working in the transportation sector. I look forward to our continued work together.”

For a person to officially serve as FMCSA administrator, he or she must be nominated for the position by the president and confirmed to hold it by the Senate. Due to the upcoming Senate recess, it is likely no vote will be taken on Darling’s nomination until at least September.

Darling was appointed the agency’s chief counsel in September 2012 by President Obama.

Prior to joining FMCSA, he held the posts of deputy chief of staff and assistant general counsel at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, the public transit agency serving the greater Boston area. Darling also served previously as the MBTA's environmental and land use counsel as well as its privacy administrator. 

The White House announced Darling’s nomination along with those of seven other individuals to various administration posts.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association said it welcomed Darling’s nomination.

“We look forward to continuing to work with Administrator Scott Darling,” said Jim Johnston, president and CEO of OOIDA. “We have found him to be open and receptive to input from the association, and he appears to appreciate the role of professional truckers.” 

OOIDA noted in a statement that it “has been able to work with Darling on a number of areas during the past year, and is particularly pleased that he made significant progress moving forward with new driver training, an issue that had previously been stagnant for many years.”

Bill Graves, president and CEO of the American Trucking Associations, also applauded word of Darling's nomination. “We congratulate Scott on his nomination to this critical position and we look forward to continuing to work with him to improve truck and highway safety,” he said in a statement.