CVTA Thanks FMCSA's Patrick Nemons as He Retires After 37 Years of Federal Service
Patrick Nemons, Director of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Office of Safety Programs, will retire on October 27 after 37 years of federal service. CVTA thanks him for his dedication and for supporting the schools that train new truck drivers.
"Patrick listened to the people who train new drivers every day," said CVTA Chairman Jeff Burkhardt. "When the new training rules raised hard questions for schools, he made time to hear them out and explain what FMCSA expected. That kind of partnership makes the rules work better for everyone on the road. CVTA's Board is grateful for his service."
27 years at the U.S. Department of Transportation. He began as a Presidential Management Fellow in the Office of Inspector General, served in the General Counsel's Aviation Consumer Protection Division and the Office of Audit Relations, and helped establish the Federal Transit Administration's Office of Transit Safety and Oversight. At FMCSA, he joined the Senior Executive Service and led the office responsible for Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) regulations, the Training Provider Registry, and the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. Since ELDT took effect in February 2022, all CVTA member schools have trained within the standards his office oversees.
Nemons spoke at several CVTA conferences, including the ELDT Task Force panels at the 2024 Spring Conference in Dallas and the 2025 Fall Conference, and most recently at the Inaugural PTDI Training Provider Summit. He consistently served as CVTA's point of contact for ELDT and the Training Provider Registry.
"Patrick kept FMCSA's door open to the training community," said John Diab, CVTA'S ELDT Task Force. "He attended our conferences, engaged with our members, and answered their questions directly. CVTA is grateful he dedicated part of his remarkable career to working alongside our schools."
"Patrick Nemons has been an indispensable resource to FMCSA's safety mission and to CVTA's ELDT Task Force in working to support greater enforcement of the Training Provider Registry," said CVTA Executive Director Andrew Poliakoff. "One of the straightest shooters in the transportation industry, Patrick was the first person to colorfully and candidly describe his low opinion of the TPR's 'self-certification' process. A consummate professional, Patrick has acted unwaveringly to improve oversight outcomes and to lead his team towards a process that would ultimately overhaul the enforcement posture at the agency. It's been a real privilege to work together on this critical issue, and I wish him a well-earned retirement!"
In his farewell note to industry partners, Nemons wrote that together, "we always delivered for the American people," and encouraged the industry to "continue to stand up for industry and America." CVTA and its member schools will continue this commitment.
