Government mandated speed limiters don’t look like they’ll be arriving any time soon… if they ever do. A number of regulations that were deemed “ineffective” and “obsolete” have been dropped from the agendas of both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Among the regulations dropped is the CMV speed limiter mandate.
Though it has been in the works for a decade, the mandatory speed limiter rule was proposed in August of 2016. It was a joint proposal from the NHTSA and the FMCSA which would have required every new heavy commercial truck to use a speed limiter.
Unsure of what speed would be best, the proposed rule sought feedback from the industry, suggesting that 60, 65, or 68 mph might be effective, and gave an estimate for how many lives would be saved each year for each speed.
While the ATA has long been in favor of mandatory speed limiters – even praising the proposed rule when it first came out – once they actually took the time to consider the impacts of this particular rule, they spoke out against it. They joined the chorus of other voices pointing out the obvious flaws with the proposal, but maintained that they still support a some version of a mandatory speed limiter rule.
Others in the industry pointed out a couple of important items; that speed limiters can and do actually make drivers less safe by increasing the speed difference between commercial trucks and other vehicles, that enforcement would be difficult if not impossible, and that limiting a driver’s options in a dangerous situation can be disastrous.
The Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association recently produced and published a video laying out the dangers of speed limiters and called them a “risky gamble based on flawed logic.”
When President Trump entered office, he placed a freeze on all pending regulations (a common practice by incoming presidents), so that his administration could review them. Some regulations, like the Electronic Logging Device rule, were cleared to move forward.
Last week however, when the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released their policy agenda, the speed limiter rule was conspicuously absent.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s been canned and won’t be coming back, but it does mean that it likely won’t be making any forward progress for the foreseeable future.
Source: DOT, gobytrucknews, truckinginfo, fleetowner, truckersreport, truckersreport, truckersreport, truckersreport
William Serenity Trucking Womack says
It was reported when trump signed the executive order Stating one Regulation passed would cancel out to existing similar regulations , this included the speed limitor reg. IS THIS TRUE OR NOT?
Apotex1 says
TRUE.
Michael mccoy says
If your going to force electronic logs on truck drivers then the US should be responsible for providing more truck parking across the US equipped with restrooms showers and food.. Thank you….
David S. McQueen says
Although retired, I am very glad to see that the ill-advised “speed limiter” rule has been shelved. It would NOT “save lives” (universal propaganda when the advocates don’t have a real reason). Too many 4-wheelers would come up on a big truck, try to pass (because the speed limit for 4-wheelers was faster than the artificial speed limit for trucks) and cause a crash. Getting rid of the rule will actually SAVE lives. Using reductio ad absurdum, if speed limiters were a good idea, why not pass a law that prohibits all vehicle manufacturers from producing a vehicle capable of going faster than 40 MPH? Because the people pushing this rule want to control commerce and want to go back to the 55 MPH (and cops can write many more tickets putting more money in the local coffers). Using trucks as rolling road blocks will make 4-wheelers pass the trucks, exceed the 4-wheeler speed limit and cops can write a ticket.
Scott says
I agree very good point cars way too fast playing with there phones and stuff in car cruise a Buck forty
Darren Cromwell says
Great its a stupid rule that will get people killed!
William Peterson says
Ata is not for truckers it for big companys
Kevin says
Amen!
Lance N. says
Speed limiters are great safety devices. Semis don’t need to go faster than 68mph
Most of the time their tires aren’t rated for it when fully loaded, especially trailers!
Groo says
Every new truck made has a built in electronic limit.
Rodger Gray says
The main problem with this and the elderly is STUPID UNEDUCATED PEOPLE that have never driven a truck make up crappie assume rules you all will not realize your stupidity until your grocery shelves are empty
Michael t says
What a dum ass
Bulldog03 says
Are you a driver? Surely, by your comments seems that you have no ideas of safety, ” i.e.”, RV’s are a hazard us drivers does that are aware of safety know for a fact that ., See, a hazard? Eliminate the hazard as it is EOBR already a Jeopardy for all professional drivers, lack of if safe parking areas, no truck’s stops to accommodate the demand for parking because of the EOBR, that in true realty a driver only drives 8 hours if at that. Passing a slow moving vehicle as such RV’s and having not the speed to pass? Truckers become a hazard, if the NTSA would conduct a thorough investigation as of accidents and loads delayed since the inplimantation of the EOBR, will find an increase on accidents, needless to say shippers take their time to load the trucks while the EOBR is running the clock, lack of rest areas and truck parking making it unsafe some drivers have no ideas of how to park and the speed making it available to eliminate the hazard will safe life as well that eliminating the EOBR, surely not applied to the cross bordind trucking are we working for America’s trucker’s or the interest of the companies that had force the EOBR. Tires are made for the weigh, speed and heating or the rolling on our roads? Some that are badly maintain, debris and other remnants of previously accidents are not haul just left there. We due respect it will help you to investigate your opinions base on your lack of knowledge, to conclude recaps are not the best option tires unfortunately there are made available at a cost effective but not for road safety including 4 Wheeler’s meaning car drivers that are a hazard on the road since it seems that some of these motoris have no ideas as to drive around semis. Have a Blessed day.
Jose Garza says
You got it we should go slower! The reason it will not get lowered its because of the fines they impose on drivers.
Jude Ossowski says
Wow, Lance, you’re brilliant. How fast should cars be allowed to go on a highway where trucks are only going 68 mph? Why would cars need to go any faster? Are car tires made to go faster? What other decisions have you decided to make regarding what everyone “needs”?
Max says
My biggest objection to speed limiters is creating a difference in speed between commercial vehicles and all others on the road. I agree that trucks don’t need to go faster than 68-70, but to intermingle them with traffic commonly traveling 75, 80 and more is the recipe for disaster.
Trucks are limited to 55 in Cali, while on the same roads, autos are allowed to go 65-70 and often travel 75-80. In Texas, 75-85 on interstates posted at 65-70 is very common. Now mix a slow truck amongst that and we have disaster waiting to happen.
If we’re going to limit tucks, then limit cars too.
Canuckistanian Warrior says
My speed limiter is my right foot!
I’m in Canada where most of our highways are two lane. I regularly travel at around 100 to 110 kmh, or 60 to 65 mph. But when I want to pass someone I want to do it quickly so I’ll hit 75mph, get it over with and carry on at my normal cruising speed. Ontario and Quebec have mandatory speed limiters on their trucks, (I’m in BC) and it is frustrating as hell when one is in front of me, stuck behind a tourist or whatever, and they haven’t got the jam to pass them, making it difficult for me to pass due to the length of time it will take. So there we all are, in a conga line of stupid until the slow poke pulls off, or we get to a rare passing lane.
Then there’s the frustrated four wheelers who get impatient and pull dangerous stunts to get around us. I’ve had beer bottles thrown at me from pissed off four wheelers, all because of some dipshit bureaucrat in his ivory tower.
Speed limiters are a bad idea and will cause more road rage, more accidents and more carnage.
Robert Scott says
We need a national spped limit for all vehicles of 65 mph. Maybe that will slow the 4 wheelers down to 72. Lol
Shogun says
Lance N. your information on the tire speed rating is incorrect. Then again, most people spouting speed limiters and safety are repeating the same drivel they’ve been spoon fed. Do a little research, catch a ride with a cattle hauler headed west and tell me if the tire blows out at 68.1 mph.
Jeffrey A Snyder says
Amen nice to hear some logic for a change
Paul says
Speed limiters fall into the same category as ELD’s in my book. It’s not about safety…it’s about money and control. The eld is the equivalent of putting an ankle monitor on me. A government official riding with me, watching my speed and telling me when I’m tired and need to sleep. Slower speed limits mean more speeders which means more revenue. Speed limiters at 65 will not only cause accidents between a truck at 65 and a car at 85 plus, but when one truck does not have the ability to pass another because they can only run 65, talk about a mess…and pissed off car drivers. There’s talk of postponing the eld mandate…some legislation has been introduced…so…as an owner operator, do I spend a few hundred dollars to comply and then throw it away if it’s put off? What we need is an eld decision, NOW! My vote is throw the whole damn idea in the trash!!! And I’ll say it again….the only way we will ever get our power back is to park the trucks…all of them…3 days will do it. So don’t tell me you can’t afford to do it. If 3 days off bankrupts you, you were already broke!!
RenoBlues says
Ran rural Nevada for years at 70-75. Never had a tire problem Lance. I did have a problem with getting around the 2-3 truck conga line of guys running 62. At that point my load had to arrive later because corporate d-bags wanted to play johnny law. If you don’t know what your tires can handle then you should go back to the crackerjack box you got your license out of and stay there Lance.
David Lee says
I just love how researchers and every idiot on the road has a stong opinion in areas that they have no experience. Maybe if they ask a truck driver how it is from a driver’s seat under a speed regulator point of view… well, i’ll tell you. Either you are a good driver or a bad one–dangerous or safe. The regulator was to keep drivers from speeding. In all speed limits up to 65 or regulated speed, i potentially could move at dangerous speeds if i wanted. In speed limits between 60 to 80, the regulators are dangerous especially for newer drivers who are not used to them and try to make a pass. This is when traffic becomes congested, producing impatient non-cmv driver road rage and swerving traffic. Some have actually passed on the right shoulder to cut me off and slam their brakes in revenge because my speed was regulated while a second governed tractor trailer was attempting to pass me with maybe 1-2 mph gain on me. The raging individual put his life, my life, the other simi driver and all the tailgating drivers’ & passengers’ lives in danger. Hundreds could have been killed in that one incodent, and i would have been called the one at fault, not the one who was attempting the murder of my life! I see a real problem with people who are bad drivers, but you cannot make trucks safe by taking away the opperator’s ability to contol the equipment they are responsible for. The truck driver needs control over the brakes just as much as the accelerator. Speed control is up to the professional driver.
Eric says
The best speed limiter is your right foot.
Chris T. says
I drive 70 in a 70 mph state…75 in a 75 mph and 80 in South Texas and South Utah…never had a problem with tires…
Michael says
Staggered speed limits have been proven to cause accidents since an OSHA study in the 70’s, when they tried the 55 for all. It’s large fleet owners inflicting an unnecessary burden on drivers, O/O, and motorists to save a penny on a gallon of fuel. It’s never been about safety.
Rick says
They are going to need a lot of parking spaces once the electronic logs come into effect it is a stupid rule and it should not be imposed upon the drivers it will not make driver safer it will make them to where they have to drive even if they are tired but the government does not see stuff like that. Shippers and receivers do not run on electronic logs it is designed to put the little companies out of business.