Senate Confirms Derek Barrs to Lead FMCSA
Former Florida Highway Patrol Chief to Guide Trucking Safety Agency
Key Takeaways:
- The Senate on Oct. 7 confirmed Derek Barrs as administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration despite an ongoing partial government shutdown.
- Barrs, a former Florida Highway Patrol chief with decades of safety experience, will oversee trucking regulation as the Trump administration advances infrastructure and emissions policy changes.
- Industry groups praised his confirmation, citing expectations that his leadership will enhance highway safety, enforcement accountability and collaboration with state and industry partners.
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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has a new leader in Derek Barrs.
The Senate on Oct. 7 confirmed Barrs to manage the nation’s trucking regulatory agencyeven as the federal government remained locked in a partial shutdown.
Barrs will join Secretary Sean Duffy’s team at the Department of Transportation at a time when the Trump administration is promoting funding for big-picture infrastructure projects and revisiting certain Biden-era emissions programs.
The Senate also recently confirmed Michael Rutherford to be assistant secretary for Multimodal Freight Infrastructure and Policy, Gregory Zerzan as general counsel and David Fink for the top role at Federal Railroad Administration.
“Michael, Gregory, Derek and David are accomplished leaders in their fields who will help us advance the transportation, safety and infrastructure needs of the American people,” Duffy said Oct. 8, adding for emphasis: “Welcome aboard!”
American Trucking Associations .
“Following extensive advocacy by ATA, we are pleased that the Senate has voted to approve the nomination of Derek Barrs to serve as administrator of FMCSA,” said ATA President Chris Spear. “Mr. Barrs’ confirmation was long overdue, and with rising concerns about motor vehicle safety enforcement, his leadership is urgently needed to drive accountability, strengthen state-level compliance and ensure only qualified commercial drivers operate on our nation’s roadways.
“Mr. Barrs is well-equipped to meet this moment, boasting nearly two decades of experience in law enforcement as well as in the [commercial motor vehicle ] industry,” Spear added. “Throughout his career, he has demonstrated his ability to bridge industry and enforcement, forge consensus and deliver results. With Mr. Barrs’ expertise and the strong support of the Trump administration, we can uphold the highest standards of safety on our nation’s highways.”
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Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance Executive Director Collin Mooney also touted the newly confirmed agency chief.
“The alliance is looking forward to working with FMCSA Administrator Barrs and the FMCSA team to continue to strengthen our partnership, share expertise and enhance safety initiatives with the goal [of] reducing crashes, injuries and fatalities involving commercial motor vehicles,” Mooney said.
“The trucking industry is changing rapidly with new technologies, infrastructure challenges and evolving supply chain demands,” said PrePass Safety Alliance CEO Mark Doughty. “Derek’s leadership will be critical in navigating these shifts in a way that prioritizes safety, efficiency and innovation.”
Barrs, a former Florida Highway Patrol chief with more than three decades in public safety, is recognized as an authority on safety policy throughout the commercial transportation sector. During his Senate confirmation hearing earlier this year, Barrs detailed the task ahead if he were to be named leader at the DOT sub-agency.
“I understand that FMCSA’s actions impact an entire industry, and I am committed to ensuring that agency decisions are informed, balanced and transparent,” he said. “If confirmed, I will continue to strengthen relationships between government and stakeholders, working together on our shared goal of improving roadway safety as well as addressing critical safety issues.”
An earlier version of this story indicated his confirmation vote had already taken place.
