49 U.S.C. § 113 — Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

(a) The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is an administration within the Department of Transportation. (b) In carrying out its duties, the Administration must treat safety as its highest priority, recognizing Congress's clear intent to promote the highest degree of safety in motor carrier transportation. (c) The Administration is led by an Administrator, appointed by the President with the Senate's approval, who must have professional experience in motor carrier safety and reports directly to the Secretary of Transportation. (d) The Administration has a Deputy Administrator, appointed by the Secretary with the President's approval, who carries out the duties and powers the Administrator assigns. (e) The Administration has an Assistant Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator, appointed through the competitive civil service by the Secretary with the President's approval, who serves as the Administration's Chief Safety Officer and carries out duties the Administrator assigns. (f) The Administrator carries out (1) motor-carrier and motor-carrier-safety duties and powers given to the Secretary under a list of specific chapters (5, 51, 55, 57, 59, 133 through 149, 311, 313, 315, and 317) and a section of the Noise Control Act of 1972 — except duties the Secretary had already assigned elsewhere in the Department (other than the Federal Highway Administration) as of October 8, 1999; and (2) any additional duties the Secretary assigns. (g) A duty or power listed in (f)(1) can only be moved to a different part of the Department when a law specifically allows it. (h) A decision the Administrator makes on a duty or power in (f)(1), if it required notice and a hearing by law, is administratively final. (i) The Administrator must consult with the Federal Highway Administrator and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator on matters related to highway and motor carrier safety.