First they berated the FMCSA for dragging their feet on a speed limiter ruling. Then after the rule was published, they said they were “pleased.” After taking some time to consider, they had their doubts. Now the American Trucking Association has completed their 180o turn by announcing that they believe the speed limiter rule is “dangerous.”
To be clear, the ATA still supports the idea of a speed limiter rule, just not this specific one. In their press release, ATA President and CEO Chris Spear stated that “ATA is preserving our pro-safety policy on speed limiters.”
In the statement, Spear outlined many of the same concerns that other critics of the rule have had, namely that “it provides insufficient data,” that it has not one but three different proposed speeds to limit trucks at, and that it doesn’t address the safety problem that would arise out of having other vehicles travelling at much higher speeds than trucks.
Of all the complaints raised against the speed limiter rule, the fact that in some areas cars would be legally driving 20+mph faster than trucks may be the most worrisome. Spear even says the following in his press release:
“Most disconcerting is the fact that DOT’s new rulemaking does not address the differentials in speed that would exist between any of the three proposed national speed limits for trucks and the speed laws of multiple states – allowing passenger vehicles to travel at much higher speeds than commercial trucks. This lack of data and direction only elevates the safety risks to the motoring public.”
The topic was even addressed by Spears again at the ATA’s annual convention where he criticized the rule during a press conference.
“We also find it rather curious that the administration wasted nearly eight years to put forth this proposal,” said Spears.
The ATA does still support the idea of a mandatory speed limiter rule, but it is unclear how any rule that does not also limit the speed of cars could avoid the split-speed safety issue.
Source: overdrive, prnewswire, fleetowner, truckersreport, truckersreport
What a laugh! These idiots at ATA never learn. They think they can get in bed with the government to push their own agenda that is nothing more than to squeeze out independants but it is backfiring on them. Sorry boys, you’ve been fooled twice…shame on you!
So true! Shady things by shady people.
The individual states have already determined the safe speed for their local environment and conditions.
I am a trucker in favor of a speed limiter….seems like all trucks want to go 100 mph anymore….you can see them 3 feet from the bumper in front of them….please 60 or 65 max…
No Gary, you are not a trucker!
He has no idea of real speed, Assumes,, and we all know what the means and has no idea how dangerous the speed limiter ruling will be for ALL highways users. I think the word is , Steering wheel holder.
Retard much?
What truck can even go 100 mph anymore? 90% of company trucks are going 68 or less already. Most owner-ops are going 70 or less to conserve fuel and save $. Speed limiters are dangerous for the general public. Any proponent of such a rule has a different objective than safety. Most of the drivers I see complaining about faster trucks do so out of jealousy rather than concern for anyone’s safety.
Mine. According to the computer readout, it is capable of 126. Have I ever had it there? Hell NO! Would I ever? Nope. I am an O/O and I run the speed limit, or up to 4 over, depending on where I am at. In a construction zone, don’t be behind me, I do under the limit. I was popped in 1997, in a C.Z., and it cost me $99.50, and 6 points. I wasn’t even speeding, actually I was stopped. Long story, but from that time, I will not go over in a C.Z. I see, all the trucks pass me, the governed, and the ungoverned. Have I ever sped, oh Yeah, but I’ll be damned, if someone is gonna limit my truck. When they do, make it law, and they will, I will turn my truck into an RV.
Turning my truck into a RV has been my plan for years now.Does not matter if the limiter reg passes or not. I have other reasons for doing besides camping.
So what you’re not driving that truck it’s not your license
Not 60 or 65. I’d be OK with 70. But I’d only support that if they allowed a Passmart or driver reward type thing that allowed short bursts of an extra 5 mph or so. If all trucks were governed to the same speed, no matter what the speed, we’d have rolling road blocks with some drivers being able to do 1/2 mph faster passing a truck on the flats.
Our company trucks are governed to 72 mph. The passmart is set up to allow 10 min per hour of +5 mph. So if I am passing, but just creeping by, I can hit the throttle twice to activate it and go up to 77 and get passed quickly then slow back down to 72 once I’m back in the right lane.
I want to work with your company, lol I like that idea, and that can equate to 4 to 5 more loads per month
To the drivers that want speed limiters saying “drivers run 100 mph tailgating “. They’re going to run at whatever speed limit that is posted and at certain times there will be tailgating, but if courtesy, training and common sense would come back into the fold, from both passenger vehicles and drivers this world out here would be soo much more tolerable! No, I do not support speed limiters!
Theres no way your a driver!!
Limit yourself to 60 or 65, stay in the right lane so you give others the courtesy of being able to pass you. Stop asking the government to do something that you can do on your own.
Are you kidding me? 60 or 65? I’d get run over at those speeds!
Sounds like a NON driving Nutsack to me
You are crazy when you have cars that are running much faster than we do you are going to have wrecks also with two lanes restricted on trucks that will mean these trucks can’t get around each other as it is now plus some drivers will just sit in the middle lane and block the roads now it will only get worst.
First of all a lot of O/O will say that there trucks will do over 100 mph but the reality is that they don’t. For instance my trucks ECM says 125 mph but actual max road speed is 96 mph (dyno tested). Most truck tires speed ratings are under 75 mph so running at sustained speeds of 80+ mph they run the risk of tire failure and then Loss of control of their vehicle.The ATA is as worthless as the FMCSA when it comes to truck regulations. So much legislation and new regulations for our industry have been passed or proposed over the last 10 years in the name of safety. Carriers that hire student drivers and turning them loose on their own after a few weeks with a driver trainer (who probably has less than 2 years experience himself) are the problem. Insufficiently trained drivers are the core problem. Speed limiters are not the answer, just look at Canada, they have had a similar rule in place for quite some time now and from what I’ve heard their going to be repealing it. I’ve been driving 32 years now with two 2 million safe driving awards and I’m about done with all this crap, turning truck into an RV sounds like an interesting idea.
Your probably one of those poor Swift, Schneider, Prime or JB Hunt drivers that want ALL truck drivers to run at your snail pace. You guys already cause enough traffic jams.
It would be the most dangerous move they could make! The frustration that would occur from road blocks in the highways would bring road rage to a new low !!!!!!
Gary, I rarely see trucks exceeding the speed limit on interstate. Who I do speed is governed trucks speeding through towns and construction zones.
Exactly i have an ungoverned truck and i always go the speed limit maybe a couple over, but i see these guys pass me in the construction zone while im going the speed limit, then when it goes up again i pass them anyways whilst doing the speed limit
Really? How many trucks run 55 mph through Carlisle, PA on I-81. If you are traveling faster than the posted speed, you are speeding. Most trucks don’t even slow down through there.
True but I do
Speed limiters or not. You have to drive according to conditions. Type of road,weather,traffic, and take into account what you’re hauling. I always get annoyed when I see two knucklheads governed at 63mph trying to pass each other for miles holding everyone else behind.
Come on ATA, you insult our intelligence. Now you want to throw a flag, we all know who you really represent, and its not ME!
What, they just now figured this out? Ha! If there was a such thing as a mental institution for organizations, the ATA would make a great candidate to be committed.
They might just as well have said they’re against the new proposal because speed limiters limit speed. It’s no less obvious that cars would be going a lot faster than speed-limited trucks.
Maybe instead of limiting truck speeds, since many are already governed anyway, we should limit the other vehicles on the road. Slowing EVERYBODY down would be safer.
Like 4 wheelers obey the speed limits now?
I already have a speed limiter. It is those little signs on the side of the road that say “speed limit”. The autos think they say “speed suggestion”. When is the FMCSA going to concentrate on motor carrier safety for a change, instead of just the folks who drive the trucks.
I’m not a trucker. I can sympathize with truckers that don’t want speed limiters, I think most limits are too low [in Canada]. I would like to see the left [passing] lane have a minimum limit of 120 kph and max 130 kph. The right lane can stay at 110 kph for those that aren’t comfortable at higher speeds. This would hopefully help fix the tailgating I see, which IMO is much more dangerous than speeding, especially in bad weather. My non scientific judgement of average speed on the #2 freeway between Edmonton and Calgary is about 125 kph, conclusion drawn when those passing me is approximately equal to those I’m passing.
The Province of Ontario has had truck speed limited to 105km/hr (65mph) for years, now. That’s ok around here where speed limit is 100km/hr for all vehicles. What sucks about it is 5000 mile turns from here to the US Pacific coast and back that adds an extra 20hrs driving time to the round trip. I don’t see anything wrong with 75mph west of Iowa out on the flats through the wide open mid west.
All they had to do was look at Ohio 20 plus years ago when the speed limit for trucks was 55 and autos was 65 . If they want to do something like this they should lower the limit by 5 mph . Those states that have speed limits over 65 should lower their limit for trucks to 65 . What went on when the limit was 55 mph? I drove at 60-65 and yeah I got stopped a few times but some times they just told me to slow it down a bit . I even got one of the first tickets Ct. was handing out for going 56 mph . I think that the driver is the one that should make his own limit , A safe and resonable speed according to conditions .
You would think a driver should be able to make his own speed but take a long hard look at a majority of todays truck drivers, and then ask your self is that a good idea? Todays driver have been raised to not take responsibility for their actions and it shows in their actions today. Gramma used to say ” be careful what you wish for , It may come true.
I’m in favor of enforcing tailgating laws. That would solve this whole issue. Most tailgating offenses are fairly stout when it comes to fines and points,yet I see trucks tailgate everyday ,all day long. Cars and pickups also ignore tailgating laws. I don’t know why the police are so lackadaisical concerning tailgating. States could make a bloody fortune if they would just enforce tailgating laws.
Leave it alone. Let the states take care of their own speed limit. Split speed limits are not safe. You want to make driving safe. Disable cell phones from receiving or sending texts and face book.when moving over 10 miles and hour. For at least three minutes. Distracted driving is the biggest problem I see.
I’m limited..passing is dangerous when limited and having a burst of speed just before taking the next hill would be much easier on traffic congestion. But high speed? So many fly by me..and 30 seconds later I pass them as they are upside down in the meridian, career over. Others you catch up to by the next stop…..an hour of pushing it 10 over only gets you 10 miles and maybe an extra $5 if you make it….
Well. From experience driving large cars back when you could and not get tossed in the crowbar hotel. 3 things come to mind. Everyone who drove a truck was a truck driver. Everyone was on the two way. Running a buck n change was a hoot n one could always find another brother trucker to lay a strip. However. In the long run. Not very profitable. 73s ain’t no feeling like chicken mobelen
I’ve been trucking for 33 years and never had a chargeable accident and only 2 speeding tickets both of those were at least 25 years ago. But when the day comes that someone thinks that they can tell me that I have to limit the speed on a truck that I pay for well…… IM DONE Look fellow truckers they are clamping down too tight and WE ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT CAN STOP IT UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL But with the way most people are today I’m positive that we will fall
Leave the speed limiter crap alone,ATA you should concentrate on saving money for drivers,O/O’s,training,regulations on companies,we don’t need speed limiters,we need better drivers,stop forcing drivers to chase the dangling carrot, better pay,LESS MILES!,driver training throughout career,not just the 1st 2 week’s
I wonder if any one has the car truck accident information from back when the speed limit was 55 for ALL vehicles.?
Compare that to the same number of years at todays speed limit for trucks and see if the speed limit differential now has increased in accidents . Illinois saw the danger and raised their speed limit and according to some Ill elected officials has reduced the accidents between cars and trucks. We know California wont do it because it is the right thing to do. They go left.
My real concern is the road rage it will breed. We will see road rage like we have never seen before. There will be blood that is senseless but it will happen. Today we see too many drivers shot at and trucks get bullet holes in them due to auto drivers that for some reason cannot stand to be behind a semi truck and takes it out on the next truck they see.
There are too many rear end collisions now and if the speed difference is greater than today it will cause an increase in numbers. The only good thing ( if you want to call it that) from the speed limiter ruling is Coroners will be busier. Insurance companies will be paying out more money and tow trucks will say busy all year. This speed limiter ruling smacks of a regulation proposed by the 4 martini lunch crowd. If it is unsafe, poorly thought out, no real research and it keeps them in office it must be a good thing is the mantra of career politicians.
I will admit that I had trouble slowing down in Carlisle, PA but it is so much more fun to watch the scenery when you do slow down and get tout your destination safe and alive. Forget limiters just leave us truckers alone and let us do the job that you smart intelligent people don’t want to do. I guess FDOT wants truckersome to stop drivingetting so that they can put driverless trucks on the road.
The ATA (Anti-Truckers Association) is a joke, I’ve always said that and always will. The blind leading the blind up in DC.
67 should be a max limit. It’s a compromise between fuel,time and saftey. 90 % companies all ready have their trucks set close to this. So not many would be effected. But car limits should be made to not be more than 5mph more than this. No more 75 or 80 for cars. Otherwise carnage for all. Just let economics take care of things and states rights.
15 years experience. My vote is just say NO to governers & just say NO to electronic logs. The best times of my life were running a pete wide open out west or down south. I know how the proper speed to handle my truck on turns. Just got back from a Carlisle PA run and some hills have a posted 10mph speed limit for trucks. Fully loaded i couldn’t keep it under 35, DOT vehicle enforcement was right there halfway down, they pulled out & followed and knew I had engine brake on, running lowest gear possible without over-rev, and sporatic controlled braking to save my air and not overheat the brakes. They followed me down the hill as i hit 45 then 55. No problems. Safely managed every turn and passed other trucks for safety. My point is, I run a truck with governer and absolutely hate it. 63mph in the mountains is just not gunna happen. I ‘dragNfly’ thru the mountains like a champ. 90mph on some bursts, but those burst help push me up the next hill that much easier.
Electronic logs just make sure you go off duty and pretend to sleep while 3am check ins turn into 5am in the door then 8am empty and you cant sleep cuz your backhaul is ready for pickup and you can’t afford to be sleeping all day. The future of trucking should be FREEDOM not RESTRICTION.
I would be ok with 75 on the pedal and 80 on cruise atleast we can do ths speed limit in some state with higher speed limits.
speed limiters are okay if they are set at the highest car speed…..I live in Arizona, and trucks travel at same speed as car…much more pleasant way to travel that having 2 different speeds for vehicles..which makes hell driving.
Speed limiters is a complicated issue . Right now I have my own personally limited speed at 2MPH over the posted speed limit, in order to defend myself from the most dangerous person on the highway for my wellbeing, the traffic enforcement officer, who doesn’t understand well enough the experianced drivers perspective.
I have been in texas and Oklahoma where speeds are 80mph I have a company truck governed at 65 mph with no pass assistance, it is a rolling safety hazard, trying to enter highway traffic at 35 to 45 mph because of governor limiting my ability to accelerate, going upgrades in hills at 17 mph to 27 mph while other traffic is at 70 plus mph not to mention traffic in big cities where it is the most dangerous because it limits your power and that limits my ability to maneuver thought and with traffic, so a few cent saved in gas mileage first the company but much more hazardous to me as a driver, people just don’t understand what we have to go through as drivers