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May 17, 2006 8:10 AM, EDT

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ransportation Secretary Norman Mineta on Tuesday named David Hugel deputy administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

On Wednesday, President Bush nominated John Hill to be the agency's administrator, subject to Senate confirmation. (Click here for related coverage.)

Hugel has served for the past three years as administrator of the Maryland Division of Motor Vehicles.

Hugel, who will assume the position May 30, replaces Warren Hoemann, who stepped down last week. Hoemann was deputy administrator since 2003 and acting administrator since the departure of former FMCSA chief Annette Sandberg on April 1. (Click here for previous coverage.)

Hugel's career has included work in the public and private sectors, and has focused on motor vehicle issues for the past 19 years.

“David Hugel has a strong record on management and motor vehicle safety issues,” Mineta said in a statement.

“As the number of trucks and buses on our roads continues to increase, [Hugel] will play a critical role in helping reduce the severity and number of crashes involving trucks and motor coaches,” Mineta said.