Cuppertino, CA – Yet another former top official at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is now working to speed deployment of self-driving trucks.

On Wednesday, self-driving tech maker Plus (formerly Plus.ai) announced Wiley Deck, former Acting Administrator of the FMCSA, is joining the company as Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy.

“In this role, Deck will lead the Company’s Government Affairs and Public Policy strategy and outreach, including working with regulators and other key stakeholders to ensure the safe deployment of autonomous trucks, starting with supervised autonomous trucks,” Plus said.

Astonishingly, Deck took over at the Agency for Jim Mullen after he abruptly resigned his leadership post last year to join a competing driverless truck company, TuSimple.

Mullen was initially named Chief Legal and Risk Officer, but has since been promoted to Chief Administrative and Legal Officer.

Last month, yet another top United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) agency head began advising TuSimple as well.

Nicole Nason, who served as Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration from 2019 until January of 2021, joined TuSimple’s Executive Advisory Board, along with the CEOs of Navistar and Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.

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These top trucking industry executives will certainly be able to lend significant expertise in helping TuSimple reach its stated goal of “removing the driver from middle mile truck freight.” 

As for Deck, he called it “an honor” to join Plus.

“Autonomous trucking is fundamentally reshaping commercial transport and regulations will be a critical part of unlocking the full potential of this technology to make long-haul trucking safer, more efficient, more comfortable, and better for the environment,” Deck said.

Snagging Deck is seen as another victory for Plus after it completed a $200 million round of funding led by multiple Chinese investment firms earlier this year.

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