Barrs enters the nomination process with a lengthy background in transportation safety. (Juan Sorto/Transport Topics)
The Trump administration has moved to install permanent leadership at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, nominating Derek Barrs after Adrienne Camire’s brief and unexplained disappearance from the agency’s top post.
The nomination of Barrs, a former Florida Highway Patrol chief with more than three decades in public safety, follows a string of leadership changes at the agency.
Camire, who was named acting administrator on March 7, vanished from the agency’s leadership page less than two weeks later. By March 21, the Department of Transportation had removed a press release announcing her appointment and made no public comment about her departure. It is unclear whether she will return to her previous position as senior adviser.
Barrs enters the nomination process with a lengthy background in transportation safety. In addition to his tenure with the Florida Highway Patrol and Florida Department of Transportation, he has worked as a consultant on traffic and commercial vehicle safety projects in multiple states.
He joined American Trucking Associations’ Law Enforcement Advisory Board in 2021 and has held roles with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, including serving as president of its Associate Members group. Barrs was also appointed to the Flagler County School Board in 2023 by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Industry groups have voiced strong support for the nomination. In January, ATA, the Truckload Carriers Association and the National Tank Truck Carriers jointly urged U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to consider Barrs for the role.
Letter to Duffy on Derek Barrs Heading FMCSA
“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,” said ATA President Chris Spear in a statement. “Derek’s extensive public service at the Florida Department of Transportation and Florida Highway Patrol make him exceptionally well qualified to be FMCSA administrator.”
Spear added that Barrs “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.”
FMCSA regulates safety standards for commercial motor vehicles, including driver hours, licensing compliance and crash reporting. The agency has struggled with leadership continuity in recent years. Camire’s term, though not formally addressed by DOT officials, appears to have been one of the shortest in the agency’s history.
