December 22, 2023 NMFTA Names Jim Mullen as Chief Strategy Officer

Mullen’s industry experience propels him into new NMFTA role to lead strategic partnerships.

Alexandria, Virginia – The National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) announced today that the organization has welcomed Jim Mullen as Chief Strategy Officer. Mullen joins the organization as a consultant with nearly 20 years of broad executive experience in the trucking industry and currently provides advocacy, strategy, policy, and legal services for transportation stakeholders as the Founder and President of Mullen Consulting LLC. 

As the current Executive Director of the Clean Freight Coalition, Mullen has formed various relationships with key industry authorities across the transportation and supply chain industry, further garnering him as a leader and expert within the space. During his time as the Acting Administrator and Chief Counsel of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) from 2018 to 2020, Mullen rendered legal policy and direction to all FMCSA headquarters and field offices.

Due to his extensive professional background and knowledge within the space, Mullen, in his new role with NMFTA, will be responsible for partnering with vehicle manufacturers, telematics companies, federal agencies, and supply chain leaders for digital standards development and trucking cybersecurity research, as well as best practices to protect one of the country’s most critical infrastructures.

“Recognizing the crucial role NMFTA plays in setting standards and proactively uniting the industry, I saw a unique opportunity to contribute,” said Mullen. “My experience at CFC, FMCSA, Werner Enterprises, and TuSimple, coupled with my passion for autonomous vehicles, perfectly aligned with this role. I applaud NMFTA for creating a hybrid working model, and I am eager to tackle the challenges ahead. With my regulatory expertise, I firmly believe we can establish the necessary standards to propel the industry forward.”

In his role at TuSimple as Chief Administrative and Legal Officer from 2020 to 2022, Mullen became one of the leaders who spearheaded the development of autonomous trucking technology. As the dominant form of U.S. inland freight transportation, trucking amounts to billions for the economy. In 2022 alone, the industry generated $940.8 billion in gross freight revenues, moving 11.46 billion tons of freight. Autonomous trucks specifically are also expected to be on highways as early as 2025 as the industry continues to evolve and progress with technological advancements.

“For years, our industry has encountered certain key issues, and Jim has been on the front lines of battling them,” said Debbie Sparks, Executive Director for NMFTA. “Upon discussing NMFTA’s vision with Jim, he demonstrated immediate and enthusiastic support. His extensive experience and relationships have equipped him to proactively address long-standing industry challenges and develop innovative, lasting solutions. This role at NMFTA represents the culmination of his previous experience and responsibilities, an altruistic opportunity to make a real difference.”

To learn more about NMFTA’s mission, advocacy, services, resources, and industry conferences, visit www.nmfta.org.

About NMFTA
Since 1956, the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc. (NMFTA) has represented the interests of the less-than-truckload (LTL) motor carrier industry. The NMFTA publishes the National Motor Freight Classification® (NMFC®), assigns Standard Carrier Alpha Codes™ (SCAC®), assigns Standard Point Location Codes® (SPLC™), develops digital standards for the LTL industry, and safeguards those digital standards through cybersecurity research, dissemination of studies, and education. Membership in NMFTA is available to all for-hire interstate and intrastate motor carriers. For more information, visit www.nmfta.org.

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