Two trucking industry groups are offering support for the Trump Administration’s nomination of Derek Barrs, a former chief of the Florida Highway Patrol, to serve as administrator of trucking industry regulatory board the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
If confirmed by the Senate, Barrs would bring a background in law enforcement to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) job, noted American Trucking Associations (ATA) President & CEO Chris Spear.
“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,” Spear said in a release. “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.”
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.
Truck driver industry group the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) also called for the Senate to confirm the new pick. “OOIDA and the 150,000 small business truckers we represent congratulate Derek Barrs on his nomination to lead the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. We look forward to working with him in advancing the priorities of small business truckers across America, including fighting freight fraud, rolling back unnecessary regulations, and closing regulatory loopholes to ensure the safest truck drivers remain in the industry,” OOIDA President Todd Spencer said in a release.
