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May 16, 2000 9:30 AM, EDT

Federal Maritime Administrator Clyde J. Hart Jr. has emerged as the leading, if not the sole candidate, to head the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, but probably only for a short term.

	FMCSA
	Clyde J. Hart Jr.

Hart has made it known that he is strongly interested in assuming the top job in trucking safety oversight on a 90-day basis. The term would coincide with a congressional review of the FMCSA budget for fiscal 2001. Afterward, he would return to the maritime side of the Department of Transportation, and the White House would be expected to offer another name to head the agency until January, when a new president takes office.

Hart and sources close to the process expect the FMCSA job to be offered to him within the next two weeks.

Hart confirmed late last week that he had two discussions with Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater about taking the position on a temporary basis, and was “leaning toward” accepting the job if it was offered to him.

For the full story, see the May 15 print edition of Transport Topics. .