Trucking groups applaud Senate effort to block speed limiter mandates
Several trucking associations are backing an effort in the U.S. Senate to block mandates for speed limiters on large commercial vehicles.
The Deregulating Restrictions on Interstate Vehicles and Eighteen-Wheelers (DRIVE) Act follows a House version of the legislation introduced earlier this year.
The U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration proposed the rule in April 2022.
“Overreaching, out-of-touch D.C. mandates oftentimes make truckers’ jobs harder and can even put their lives at risk—I’ll keep fighting for Montana truckers and against big government,” said Senator Steve Daines (R-MT).
Supporting organizations include the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), Montana Trucking Association, Western State Trucking Association, National Association of Small Trucking Companies, and others.
‘Like an obstacle course’
“Forcing trucks to speeds below the flow of traffic increases interactions between vehicles and leads to more crashes. It’ll be like an obstacle course for passenger vehicle drivers on our highways,” Todd Spencer, president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) said in a press release.
“In rural states like Montana, a truck speed limiter will create additional speed differences between trucks and cars, which does not enhance the safety of our highways. Trucks should not be treated differently than cars by governing their speed,” added Montana Trucking Association CEO Duane Williams.
David Owen, president of the national association of small trucking companies, painted a picture of “rolling traffic jams” on interstate highways that also feature rolling terrain.
In contrast, the American Trucking Associations (ATA) supports speed limiter legislation that sets top speeds at 70 mph (112 km/h) in trucks with automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control, and 65 mph (104 km/h) for trucks without such technologies.
On the Canadian side of the border, most trucks operating in Ontario and Quebec have had to mechanically govern speeds at 105 km/h since 2008. Similar legislation has been proposed in B.C.
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Speed limiters are a disaster waiting to happen. It would be like having split speed limits in nearly every state. In states like California that have split speed limits, traffic flow is terrible, especially on two-lane roads, since the differential between trucks and other vehicles causes more passing, and on a two-lane road, that is a definite safety issue. There is nothing good about a policy that encourages passing, particularly on this class of road. Even on multi-lane roads, traffic flow will be negatively affected. A truck traveling one mph faster than the vehicle it is passing results in left-lane traffic stacking up like cordwood. In turn, that increases the threat of road rage, and it has a negative effect on a car’s mileage, since the driver would have to slow down and then speed back up. Of course, there would be many complaints, but the same clowns with the speed limiter idea would say the way to “fix” the problem would be to dumb down the speed limits for everyone.
It amazes Me that Congress and State Government can focus on Trucks only, when a lot of problems stem from Drivers with mobile phones. They don’t tackle that problem because they are a part of that problem themselves instead of working for a solution. The Transportation Dept. Leader is lost, and local Governments are as well. When I was growing up, there was Public Service announcements every week on TV and Radio reminding You what to do on the highway for safety, not any more. Also, the highway Safety laws dating back to the new interstate system being developed, told You to Drive to the Right, pass only on the left and get back over, That is still in Your Driver study manual today. The problem is state Driver License offices not properly testing New Drivers as well as new immigrant’s as well as making public announcements, which is educational. We have People in Gov. drawing paychecks for jobs they have no experience in, and doing nothing about nothing, just making Noise. Wake Up America and know what Your Voting for.
A much better solution is a hourly wage plus overtime at the average wage of that state after 9 hrs driving or 10 hours on duty
Wasn’t all that long ago, a number of companies where complaining about Driver Inc not being fair from company to company. The truck I drive goes 102, sometimes I see 103 on the speedo, and truck after truck goes trucking past me, many Ontario and Quebec trucks at that. I don’t see any companies saying a word !!! PS just think how fast they go past me down here in the USA…Hey John yon know who I drive for…
There should be ONE same speed limit for ALL vehicles sharing the public roads AND they should be strongly enforced…