Washington – Today, the American Trucking Associations applauded President Trump’s nomination of Derek Barrs to serve as administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
“With nearly two decades of experience in law enforcement and the commercial motor vehicle industry, Derek Barrs’ career has been defined by his emphasis on making our roads safer for all motorists,” said ATA President & CEO Chris Spear. “Derek’s extensive public service at the Florida Department of Transportation and Florida Highway Patrol make him exceptionally well qualified to be FMCSA administrator. He has a proven track record of strengthening ties between the trucking industry and public safety officers to address top transportation challenges such as drug impairment, cargo theft, and human trafficking.
“Derek’s deep knowledge of the trucking industry and his collaborative approach will make him an invaluable asset to USDOT. Under his leadership, the trucking industry is confident that FMCSA will make significant progress towards achieving our shared priorities of improving highway safety and efficiently delivering the nation’s freight. ATA welcomes Derek’s nomination to this important role, and we urge Senators to swiftly approve his nomination.”
Barrs has served in various law enforcement capacities for the Florida Department of Transportation and Florida Highway Patrol. Most recently, he has been a consultant on traffic-related and commercial motor vehicle safety projects across numerous states. He also joined ATA’s Law Enforcement Advisory Board in 2021, and he has been an active member of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance in multiple roles, including serving as the President of the Associate Members, where he represented motor carriers and suppliers to the industry.
In January, ATA, the Truckload Carriers Association, and the National Tank Truck Carriers sent a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to express full support for Barrs.
Mar 25, 2025