When a new administration enters the White House, there is usually a ‘pause’ put on any recently-passed federal regulations. These regulations that slip in just under the wire are often subjected to additional scrutiny from Congress and the White House. In addition, the DOT is also re-examining several other high-profile regulatory issues in trucking.
Under-21 Truckers Driving In Interstate Commerce
Since the proposed pilot program is still in the planning stages, progress has likely been halted already. It has been in the works in one form or another for years. It has been pushed not only by the American Trucking Association and large carriers, but also powerful groups like the agricultural lobby. Under-21 interstate driving reform has been strongly opposed by safety groups and driver advocacy groups including OOIDA.
Newly confirmed DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg has so far taken a neutral tone on the issue, adopting a more wait-and-see approach.
Independent Contractor Status
This federal guidance came from the Department of Labor, not the DOT. But the independent contractor/employee debate has huge implications for truck drivers. A huge number of truck driver pay lawsuits use employee protection laws to argue for their rights. If a company can successfully categorize a worker – including truckers – as an independent contractor, that person loses access to a huge number of rights afforded to employees designed to protect their health, pay, safety, and more.
The debate on this issue was fairly cleanly split down party lines. Republican members of Congress supported the “pro-business” approach, while Democrats largely supported the “worker’s rights” line of thinking. With Democrats in control of the White House and both chambers of Congress, it is likely that this DOL policy will get a closer look.
HOS Flexibility: The Three Hour “Pause”
FMCSA put a pilot program in place that would allow for a 3-hour “pause” button to be pushed on a trucker’s 14-hour clock. This is intended to give truckers the flexibility they need to take breaks when they need one without running out of hours on their on-duty clock.
Similar regulations have been opposed in the past by ATA. Driver advocacy groups are in support of the pilot program and the change that it represents.
While the DOT has not commented specifically on this regulation, it is likely that the pilot program will be allowed to proceed.
Electronic Logging Devices
ELDs don’t fall within the automatic review window. But despite that, the new administration has said they will examine how they have impacted truckers’ lives.
“I commit to taking a hard look at the hours-of-service regulations and how such regulations intersect with the varied complexities of truckers’ daily work, including those who transport time-sensitive cargo such as livestock and agricultural commodities,” wrote Secretary Buttigieg in a response to questions from Senators.
The question clearly includes “agricultural commodity and livestock haulers,” as does the response. This isn’t surprising given the ag industry’s incredibly powerful lobbying presence which has earned them a break from regulations including many aspects of the HOS rules.
Speed Limiters
Speed limiters have been pushed for by the ATA for some time now. This is one of those topics which seems obvious to those not in the industry. But while capping a truck’s top speed might sound like it reduces crashes, in reality it comes with a huge number of safety concerns.
“I commit to advancing the integration of technology that improves the safety of all road users, potentially including technologies such as speed limiters for commercial motor vehicles,” wrote Buttigieg. “[We will] work closely with safety advocates and industry stakeholders to achieve the critical safety goal of reducing fatalities due to speeding.”
Source: fleetowner, ttnews, DOT
Speed limiters is not the answer everyone needs to run the same speed it’s dangerous when a four wheeler running 75 runs up on the back of a truck governed at 65 let’s us run the speed limit no governors thank u
Never mind that , which speed are they going to use ? 55 , 65, 75 ?? The speed limit depends on which state you are in … time to invest in a bunch of 3406b blocks and big cam Cummins for when they pass this law and those become more valuable than gold
They can all be governed
Hey sixpac,,,how about paying attention & not run up on the back of car going slower in front you? 10 MPH difference isn’t going to “run up on the back.” Pay attention, your responsibility as a driver is to be safe & keep others safe on the roadway as well.
Comprehension can be your friend. Sixpack said “a four wheeler running 75 runs up on the back of a truck governed 65
Agree, limit all vehicles or none.
Speed.limiters sound great on paper but if you ever drove a semi, you would see that there are times you need to speed up to either avoid a situation or get out of the way of traffic. Speed limiters on 4 wheelers seems more logical. The top speed in this Country is around 85. Why can 4 wheelers do over 100 and not be limited?
The speed limiter technology they’re pushing is a GPS based software that will regulate a semi’s speed based on road location. Speed limit will match GPS road max speed anywhere. This will be implemented through ELD devices which already have engine mcm connectivity. Sad part is, it’s coming whether we like, want or need it. Look out for the next generation ELD devices (5G) that will place a tariff on the trucking industry’s life. Just remember, it all started when ELDs became law!
That is so dangerous having limiters. And it’s ridiculous to think that truckers cause more accidents than 4 wheelers.They should regulate cars also who are the main cause for accidents in the world not trucks. Imagine trying to pass cars driving 85 or more miles per hr with a limit of 55 mph!
Of course they will do a bunch of crap none of us like! That’s what those cheaters do ….Paul Lepage 2024 !
If running 70 today in the mountains there are trucks in the uphill that go down to 30s what do you expect is going to happen if the are governed to less, 20s and teens will be and excessive traffic and or people crashing into those units
It’s so obvious the new transportation idiot knows NOTHING about Trucking. A stupid AB5 type law will KILL the small fleet owners. But, I guess that what this administration is good at, killing businesses
72 miles an hour is plenty of top speed for any tractor trailer in this country anywhere
Just run the damn speed limit and drive like you’ve been in a truck before. What makes you in charge of knowing these kinds of things? Why not 73? Why not 71.846?
Speed limited trucks wont help a driver staring at their phone
Your talking about 4 wheelers right ?
If you are going to install speed limiters, cars need them also. Trucks are not the only vehicle on the road. Going up a steep hill does help to reach close to 70 mph just so you can have the rpm to do 50 at the top if that! I bet you don’t make 40 if you don’t get the right rpm before you get there and there is a four wheeler doing 65 behind you! Good Luck!!!
Had to stop to make a turn …had turn signals on …lady behind stopped but the idiot lady behind her didn’t…slamed into her pushed the first lady’s car under my ICC bumper causing a mess…investigator found second operator was texting while driving…50 mph rear ended
The ATA is the most driver hating organization in the world that is actually supposed to be for drivers. They are just a sad organization.
You sir are somehow very misinformed. The ATA is not an organization for drivers. It is and always has been set up as a lobbying organization for generally the trucking companies.
Speed limiters are a joke more accidents in California due to truckers becoming islands at 55mph while race cars dart there path cutting them off, and truckers seem to rather hit someone else instead of taking the hit
More than once I’ve saved the life of an oblivious 4 Wheeler merging onto the freeway by bumping my speed from a legal 60 to 65 just long enough to help them keep from being crushed by the truck they didn’t notice until the end of the on ramp. Speed limiterswill kill them.
When they put speed limiters on commercial vehicles,, people,,, y’all better get ready. Bcuz if y’all think it’s a driver shortage now,, u just wait.. Y’all will have freight backed up so far ,, you won’t ever get caught up.. I ve been in a truck 42 yrs,, I’ve never hurt 1 soul driving a big truck.. But speed limiters is not the answer.. I’m telling u wat I know. When it happens the hands like myself and a million other ones are not going to drive a 65 mile an HR truck.. So y’all do wat u want to do. I’ll go home and get a dark PR of glasses and a tin cup and find me a street corner b4 I’ll drive 1. Adios overandout
Speed limiters are not the answer by any means! All you have to do is watch any of the towns or villages along any of the busy 2 lane highways! You will see FedEx, Swift, and all of the other speed limited trucks driving above the posted speed limit!
In my opinion, that is an area where I try extremely hard to be under the limit. I don’t want to be responsible for hitting a child or a Grandma who walked out in front of me and I couldn’t stop!!
Eliminate ELD and bring back Paper Logs. I definitely agree with the whole IC vs Employee thing. These companies that try to screw drivers need to ceased to exist.
All truckers need to take a week off and let Congress know who’s in charge. That they aren’t going to tell us how to drive. All those fools no what to do is destroy businesses and people’s lives. Stop the movement of commerce and they may think twice about their over reaching law’s.
Speed limiters is just plain ignorant. Do you honestly believe all trucks running the same speed prevents accidents? The answer is a plain NO! Safe proactive drivers can prevent an accident with the exception of weather, but even then we all aware you reduce your speed and leaving an abundant of distance is key. One speed for all trucks in every state is just plain stupid and makes no bit of sense. Most accident can and could have been prevented. It’s people under the influence that cause accidents, drowsy drivers, distracted drivers(cell phones), not in the right frame of mind, etc but it sure in the hell IS NOT SPEED!
By speed limiters they are NOT talking about governors. It like an ISA box which stands for Intelligent Speed Adapter. It uses GPS data and satellites to not allow the truck to go faster than 2 mph over the speed limit. If its 35 mph you cannot exceed 37, if its 55 think 57 etc. Other than the obvious problems is that if you are on a highway that has a 70 mph limit and the limiter thinks its 35, you are stuck doing 37 max in a 70 zone. It’s supposed to recognize work zones etc but does not. I have one on my truck and I hate it. I’m already governed at 66 which is ok but I feel the speed limiter is dangerous to me and those around me
Most of the “safety” equipment now being installed is more dangerous to the driver than a collision. “Collision Avoidance” systems like to jam on the brakes (regardless of road condition) rather than allow a driver to steer out of a situation. “Following distance” monitors slow a truck down regardless of how the cruise is set or what traffic is like. They should all be removed as hazards.
I was turning into a driveway a couple of days ago, and the avoidance system saw the reflector pole on the corner and stopped me dead in the street. The so-called lane departure system barks incessantly in snow or rain because it can’t read the lines and assumes you ran off the road. It thinks tire tracks are lines.
Wonder why drivers have high blood pressure……
If you’re going to limit trucks then cars and motorcycles should be limited as well. Who needs to be going more than 85mph? Maybe that has something to do with the number of serious accidents. Certainly aggressive driving does – and aggressive drivers speed, a LOT
Fuel taxes? ‘Green Energy’ impacts to a driver’s wallet? Doing away with tax cuts that benefitted my pay? Just three of the big things that also affect me.
ANYONE being appointed or recommended for ANY position in the federal government should know a bit about the agency and those whose lives it impacts. What does Mr. Buttigieg know about trucks, trucking or transportation in general? What does he know about trains or air transportation? Big deal. He was mayor of a dying city that has a couple truck stops, an airport and rail yards and, maybe, he has a driving license. Can he find the front end of a truck or train three out of five times without a map and leader dog? I guess expecting the appointment of anyone actually qualified for a federal position is naive since the jobs go to the most monied or best connected.
The man couldn’t even fix the damn potholes in his city, he has no idea what the freak he is doing, he was given the position because of his sexual preference, nothing else. None of Biden’s position holders are qualified, none for any of the offices they hold. Dangerous game that man is playing with America.
If speed limiter would automatically back a trucks speed off when he gets too close to another vehicle, I’m all for it. Who hasn’t seen a truck tailgating a mini van full of innocent children driven by grandpa in the left lane unaware of of his hazardous actions? Trucks often are the bullies and can’t control themselves when aggregated or stressed by time restraints.
If we limit the speed to 5 mph, the roads will be really, really, really safe.
Then they better put speed limiters on bicycles too!