Famed North Carolina State women's basketball coach, Kay Yow once said to her team, "We have little control over what happens in life, but we have 100 percent control over how we respond."

I am honored and proud to recognize the dedicated and talented men and women of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. To those of you specifically honored with a 2011 Award, Congratulations! You take to heart Coach Yow's message when you come to work each day determined to fulfill the public's expectation of a safe trip every commercial vehicle, every driver, every time.

We are an outcome-oriented team dedicated to saving lives by reducing crashes involving commercial motor vehicles. Daily, we respond to numerous challenges, some systemic, some of our own making. And yet, our response is the only one - we won't back down. We rise up and take on each challenge as we did this year. Just as our Awardees did: in demonstrating extraordinary investigative and inspection work; in teaching us all how to change our thinking and processes using Compliance Safety Accountability; in advancing top-notch life-saving rules at a never-before-achieved rate; in being great colleagues who help us with our own productivity and who care about our health
... because healthy and productive colleagues mean successful teams!

From the front lines in the field to the mail clerks to the managers - we are a team focused on accomplishing our safety mission no matter what challenges we face. What you do saves lives and I thank you for doing your work with the highest level of dedication, energy, and integrity. To all FMCSA employees, honoree or not, I consider it a true privilege to work with you. Please join me in celebrating our Awardees. Congratulations!

Anne S. Ferro
Administrator