Washington, D.C. – Former Florida Highway Patrol chief Derek Barrs has been nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as the administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
Barrs, who served as chief of the Florida Highway Patrol from 2001 to 2020, previously spent a decade as deputy sheriff in Madison County, Florida. After leaving law enforcement, he joined HNTB Corp. in January 2020 as associate vice president. He is also an American Trucking Associations (ATA) Law Enforcement Advisory Board member and has held leadership roles with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance.
Nomination Process and FMCSA Leadership
Barrs’ nomination is currently under review by the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, but a hearing date has yet to be scheduled. If confirmed, he would become FMCSA’s first permanent, Senate-confirmed administrator since Robin Hutcheson, who resigned in January 2024 after her confirmation in September 2022.
His nomination comes after Adrienne Camire briefly held the role of acting administrator, serving just two weeks before stepping down in March 2024.
Support from the Trucking Industry
Barrs has received strong backing from industry leaders. ATA President and CEO Chris Spear praised his nomination, citing his experience in both law enforcement and the commercial motor vehicle industry.
“Derek’s extensive public service at the Florida Department of Transportation and Florida Highway Patrol makes him exceptionally well qualified to be FMCSA administrator,” Spear said.
In January, ATA, the Truckload Carriers Association, and National Tank Truck Carriers collectively urged Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to appoint Barrs, emphasizing his focus on road safety and industry collaboration.