WASHINGTON – The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance didn’t have to look very far for an official executive director.

Stephen Keppler, who for the last year has been serving as interim executive director for the North American umbrella group of highway enforcement agencies, will now keep the role permanently.

"Steve has been … going above and beyond the call of duty to ensure the organization stayed on track during a very busy year," said Buzzy France, CVSA president. "This position serves a critical role in advancing the success of the Alliance by moving us forward in achieving our strategic goals and our mission to promote commercial motor vehicle safety and security by providing leadership to enforcement, industry and policy makers."

Prior to joining CVSA, Keppler served as the department director for vehicle systems at the Intelligent Transportation Society of America. Before that he served with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Keppler graduated from Drexel University in Philadelphia in 1992 with two Bachelor of Science degrees in engineering — civil and architectural.

Under his watch, CVSA continued its tradition of monitoring and enforcing truck highway safety and affecting proposed legislation such as an electronic on-board recorder rule and planned hours-of-service changes.

"I look forward to continuing to build and strengthen on the partnerships CVSA has with our members, industry, government and other partners to achieve our ultimate goal — zero highway deaths," said Keppler.