The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has selected Gary Catapano, chairman of the National School Transportation Association’s (NSTA) Safety and Security Committee, to serve on its Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee (MCSAC).
NSTA recognized Catapano, who is also a member of its Government Relations Committee, with a Golden Merit Award in 2010 for his contributions to school transportation operations and safety nationwide.
“The safety of our nation’s schoolchildren has always been my focus and top priority, and I appreciate the opportunity to help the agency with the regulations that affect NSTA’s members,” said Catapano. “I look forward to working with the committee on behalf of NSTA to help keep our student passengers safe.”
Catapano also serves as senior vice president of safety for school bus contractor First Student. He brings 19 years of transportation safety experience to his new position on the safety advisory committee, which he will join at its meeting from April 8 to 10 in Alexandria, Va.
Members of the MCSAC are appointed by FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro and are tasked with recommending motor carrier safety programs and safety regulations. Participants offer a variety of backgrounds and expertise, from motor carrier professionals to enforcement officers to safety advocates. The primary goal of the FMSCA, which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.
“We welcome our new MCSAC members and look forward to their contributions that will help FMCSA raise the bar for carriers to enter the industry, maintain high safety standards to remain in the industry, and remove high-risk carriers and drivers from our roadways,” Ferro said.
“We closely follow the committee as their recommendations pertain to the school bus industry and are glad to see someone who understands these important issues participating in the discussion,” added NSTA Executive Director Ronna Sable Weber.
