Derek Barrs
Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Derek D. Barrs is a Florida native. He earned an undergraduate degree from Flagler College. He began his career in law enforcement and then focused on commercial motor vehicle safety at all government levels.
Barrs served as a Deputy Sheriff in Madison County, Florida, and as a Florida State Trooper. He retired after serving as chief of the Florida Highway Patrol. He became Associate Vice President for Strategic Mobility Solutions. served on the American Trucking Association’s Law Enforcement Advisory Board and a leader in the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Alliance. He also served as chair of the Enforcement and Industry Modernization Committee.
Barrs was appointed to the Flagler County School Board by the Florida governor before being nominated by President Donald Trump as administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. He was confirmed by the Senate and was sworn into office in October 2025.
Barrs has a son and a daughter.
In the News…
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator Derek Barrs announced the overhaul of the vetting process for Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) that truckers use to record hours-of-service. The electronic recordings comply with federal safety regulations and help prevent fatigue-related wrecks. The updated vetting process is intended to prevent non-compliant devices from registering on the agency’s ELD list and save truckers and carriers money.
“American families deserve to feel safe sharing a road with semi-trucks, and we want truck drivers to have the best tools to maximize those safety precautions,” said Administrator Barrs. “By strengthening our review process for ELDs, we are ensuring the industry can rely on trusted equipment and that hardworking drivers are prioritizing their health and well-being, so they are best prepared to keep driving America’s economy forward.”
Contact this Leader…
Did you pray for Administrator Barrs today? You can let him know at:
The Honorable Derek Barrs, Administrator
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
1200 New Jersey Ave. SE
Washington, DC 20590
