Drew Dixon
President Donald Trump has nominated a key player in Florida transportation regulation and a Flagler County School Board member to become Administrator for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
Derek Barrs is up for the federal job. In addition to his School Board role, he also has served as a Chief of Commercial Vehicle Enforcement for the Florida Highway Patrol. He’s currently an Associate Vice President for HNTB Corp., a transportation infrastructure design firm.
Barrs has extensive experience with the Florida Trucking Association (FTA). He also has the backing of transportation experts in the Sunshine State.
“Derek has been boots-on-the-ground for years of voluntary vehicle inspections; outreach to company terminals; and developing the ‘Truck Drivers and Troopers’ program with FTA — matching our member companies with a trooper to spend a workday with a driver, and then vice versa — for both to better understand the issues one another face,” said Alix Miller, President and CEO of the FTA.
The FTA has existed for 90 years and is a liaison between the trucking industry and Florida legislative and regulatory agencies.
The FMCSA is a federal government agency that provides regulation and oversight of commercial motor vehicles. The objective of the agency is to reduce accidents among large trucks and buses. The agency partners with industry companies and state and local governments. Many of the agency’s efforts include education and technology research.
“Derek has become a dear friend to me and an instrumental leader in the trucking industry,” Miller said. “His proven leadership and understanding of both public safety and transportation operations make him an ideal candidate to guide FMCSA through today’s complex challenges. I, and the members of FTA, congratulate Derek on this well-deserved nomination.
“Throughout his career, Derek has demonstrated an ability to create effective collaborations between the trucking industry and public safety officers to address critical issues including road safety initiatives educating the motoring public,” Miller added.
