WASHINGTON The United Motorcoach Association, along with many other segments of the U.S. ground transportation industry, have strongly endorsed President Obamas nomination of Anne Ferro to be administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Ferro, who must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, is president of the Maryland Motor Truck Association and prior to that headed the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration from 1997 to 2003.

But while Ferros nomination is backed by industry groups, shes being opposed by the Teamsters union and a handful of safety advocacy organizations.

In a statement, UMA President and CEO Victor Parra said the association was proud to give Ferro its full support and endorsement.

"Her effectiveness in both the private sector, by leading the Maryland Motor Truck Association, and public sector, by heading the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, has given her the experience and skills necessary to advance motor carrier safety to the next level."

Ferro faces a number of motorcoach industry-related challenges should she win confirmation, including helping develop a "Motorcoach Safety Action Plan" called for by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood; new-operator compliance regulations, including performing compliance reviews more timely, and a slew of proposed regulations covering everything from electronic onboard recorders to drug testing.

"The bus and motorcoach industry is experiencing a unique transitional period and the next (FMCSA) administrator will need to understand the capacity of our industry and the measured solutions," said Parra. "I look forward to working with future Administrator Ferro to achieve effective solutions that assure improved bus and motorcoach safety."

Among those supporting Ferro are the American Trucking Associations, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, the Virginia Trucking Association, the National Tank Truck Carriers and the American Moving and Storage Association.

"She has extensive experience on a variety of trucking issues, both from within government, as well as representing the private trucking industry," said Linda Bauer Darr, president of the movers association.

Those opposing Ferro said she "is an apologist for the failure of FMCSA to improve the safety record of commercial vehicles." Their comments were contained in a letter sent to President Obama.

But not all advocacy groups joined the opposition. Public Citizen, which has sided with the Teamsters and other safety groups in the past, did not sign the letter opposing Ferro. Neither did Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.

If confirmed, Ferro would be the fourth permanent administrator of the nine-year-old, over-the-road bus and truck safety agency.

She would succeed John Hill, who was administrator during the last 2.5 years of the Bush administration.