A coalition of safety groups is hoping that the federal government will require speed limiters and Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) systems to be installed and used in every heavy truck in America. Since they haven’t gotten anywhere with the Department of Transportation, the groups have turned to petitioning Congress directly.
Letters from the coalition were sent to every member of the House and Senate urging them to introduce a bill mandating speed limiter and AEB use. The request isn’t anything new; member groups including Road Safe America and the Truck Safety Coalition have been pushing for similar regulation from the DOT since 2006. But this is the first time they’ve tried bypassing the DOT and appealed to Congress.
“We’re very dissatisfied from what we’ve gotten from DOT in the last 12 years,” Road Safe America president Steve Owings told FreightWaves. “So, we’re hoping Congress – or even President Trump himself – will get this thing done.”
A notice of proposed rulemaking was actually published in 2016. The FMCSA received over 2,000 comments on the rule, but it doesn’t seem to have made any forward progress since then.
Groups like the ATA which represent large carriers are on record supporting mandatory speed limiters. But even the ATA opposes their use if cars aren’t limited as well. Many critics of the proposed rule pointed out in 2016 that differences in speed limits between cars and trucks cause serious safety concerns.
Source: gobytrucknews, freightwaves
Andrew H says
For those who want this, please view the article earlier about how the ELD mandate actually increases accidents.
Adding regulation isn’t going to make anyone safer. Emergency braking wouldn’t be necessary if people actually paid attention to driving. Cellphone use while driving is illegal but a large percentage of people still do it.
Mack says
Including cops.
Lawrence Stark says
First you cut our hours down and now you want to cut our speeds down. If you do that its going to be like California is where cars will run into the back of us truck drivers and the truck driver gets blamed for it . Or you keep on cutting things down you will loose drivers and companies and youll see stuff on the shelves in stores becomes less and prices sky rocket. Who ever is suggesting to make changes your going to screw everything up . Leave us alone and let us do our jobs. You made us use ELDs and cut our hours for travel time so thats why we are going faster. Use your common sence .
John says
they actually want to mess everything up , It is a goal for them, they actually are at war with everything in this country that is productive and prudent, they are sociopath , and paranoid , they need help , for real something has affected their minds. I am not name calling , but I am calling attention to it, could it be a allergic reaction to food types or chemicals in the food or maybe GMO
Stephen Harris says
Make cell phones go into a standby mode when the GPS sees it moving faster that 5 miles per hour.
Drag & Fly Express says
How is that fair to other parties in the vehicle, or a person using their phone as a gps?
Brian burdsall says
As I driver, I run a truck set wide open, I have also been in a truck with a speed limiter. With the speed limiter I almost got hit daily, was stuck bunched up due to I couldn’t get away from the other trucks, you want safety start enforcing the speed limit on trucks and cars, I run 2 mph the speed limit, not unusual to see cars doing 10 to 15 over, texting, and just in general being a idiot, the box companies want this so they can shove even more Ill trained drivers whom they pay a joke of a wage to, to line their pockets, this all about money, not safety, follow the money and you will find the truth
Jim says
Exactly
Don says
I am sick and tired of these coalitions trying to mandate all these regulations on trucks. If this passes it will be the biggest discrimination law suit that Congress has ever seen. Further more I suggest to the coalition and congress that every car, bus and definitely the Congress Representatives cars get speed Limiters, E- logs. Cell phone jammers while traveling. You still get calls but they go to voicemail. Once you stop you can retrieve your message. No texting capabilities while the vehicle is in motion unless it’s a 911 call only! Further more. I want the everyone in the United States that drives a vehicle on the road to pay heavy road usage taxes and higher tolls! Just like the truck owners! The ELD’s put in cars must shut the vehicle down or face fines and penalties after 14 hrs. If you work during the day your 14 hours applies as soon as you log on and the time doesn’t stop! The only way to keep going is the co driver must sign in and drive with their drivers license number. If caught in violation than subject to the same steep fines as the truckers! What is good for for truckers is good for all especially the ones that make the stupid laws! Also when you go to the shop to install all these gadgets on your cars it’s at the price that a trucker pays. After 70 hours of driving in 8 days your done sorry! Get a motel or stay home! Stiffer fines for cell phone users while driving. $10.000 would be right and enforce the law Nation wide. Hell what’s good for trucking is good for everyone!
Debbie Tullis says
Oh, what a bunch of BS
Jeremy Herring says
I’m fine with this as long as they also mandate it in personal vehicles. There’s no reason every driver on the public roads shouldn’t be subjected to the same regulatory anal probing they seem all too eager to inflict on truck drivers.
R.J. says
MAGA DITTO’s
Mack says
Right on! No, wait…I also drive a 4-wheeler on occasion. That means double the anal probing?!…Hell, maybe it won’t be so bad I may have to learn to like it. As it is now we are all already in a bent over position vis a vis the DOT.
Gary says
Many critics of the proposed rule pointed out in 2016 that differences in speed limits between cars and trucks cause serious safety concerns.
Ummmm… Been to California lately?
Bernard Dembowski says
Let’s see driverless trucks run in rain storm or snowstorm with blizzard conditions !!! Let’s see them load flatbed, carhaulers!!
Osmar L Cruz says
What they need to do is to require a separate test when you get your regular driver’s license to educate these dumb four wheelers on how to and how not to drive when around trucks! It’s ridiculous that these idiots whom never driven a truck have to be asking for something that will only make the roads more unsafe!
Mike C. says
This morning I had this four wheeler come up behind me . It was at least a mile behind me when I noticed it as it came over a hill . Next thing I know he is dead on my tail and not wanting to pass . As I was catching up to vehicles in front of me the car decided to move to just about where my tandems and landing gear are . he rode there until I braked before crashing into the vehicles in front of me and as he passed I changed lanes and when he finally got by me he took off like a rocket at the same speed he was going when he caught up to me .This is the type of driver that needs to be retrained and certified to drive a four wheeler.
Marcia says
Truth!!
Elaine says
Those slam my brake systems suck!! I have driven a truck where I went under a bridge and it thought I was colliding with a stationary object, so it slammed the brakes on!! I was so thankful there wasn’t a truck on my back or icy roads!! “YEAH REAL SAFE!!”
Mike F says
Better do it to everyone on the road then cars motorcycle and all the political cars to
Mark Rosser says
So just because elds got forced on us. Now we have to put up with some other idiot think it’s a good idea to put a cap on our speed. Talk about rolling road blocks. Think there is a high level of videos where cars take revenge on us for not getting out of there way now it will sky rocket. Thanks people who don’t know there ass from a hole in the ground. Why don’t we start calling all the accidents that happen on federally funded highways industrial accidents and treat them as such.
Mike C. says
Speed control is no problem to me . The truck I drive maxes out at 65. The speed limit here is 65 and if I have to I can change lanes to accomidate other drivers or myself if I overtake another vehicle .My problem is if I went any slower I would be late for my appointment and if I were to go faster I would be early. I try to get to where I am going on time so I don’t have to make up excuses .
Paul Burkett says
If this would stop trucks from tailgating and comming up behind slower traffic and bullying them to get over, i,m all for it. Speeding, tailgating, aggressive truck drivers are ruining this industry.
JudgeRightly says
It’s not just trucks that do this.
Mack says
Nah, it’s whiners like you who ruined ut.
Chris says
If the speed limit is 75 and you can only do 65 don’t you think it is more courteous to get and stay in the right lane if you can, I’m not sticking up for the assholes out there who do those things you mentioned but there are a lot of drivers that love to ride that left all the time. And I get tired of passing people in the right lane. Its unsafe, this is a time management game, some drivers do it just to be annoying.
Lawrence Stark says
Just punish the ones that do it , but dont say the rest of us are ruining everything. I bet your a 4 wheeler to. Well how about we shut down all the trucks for lets say 3 wks see what happens. Youll see shelves go bare and prices sky rocket and lets see yall pay out the ass .
R.J. says
A distracted CDL driver, some years ago, was approaching St. Louis (east-bound) on I-64 / 40.
Do to construction and during early morning rush hour, the highway was a “parking lot”, and had been for about a year.
The loaded semi was doing 70+ mph when he ran into said “parking lot”.
The driver never touched the brake.
The driver never said what he was doing at that time.
Crunch………
Barcode says
Give them what they want and then some. I’d get mine set to 52 mph and drive everywhere with my flashers on, impeding traffic as much as I could.
Grrrr says
More stupid legislation from people no clue
Limit cars as well they are as much at fault for accidents as big trucks
Marcia says
Cars are MORE at fault for accidents than big trucks…
CoveringBases says
“As much?!” I know truckers aren’t perfect, but nearly every accident, or near accident, I have seen has been caused by the 4-wheelers. I’d say they are WAY more responsible for most of them.
Steve Boyd says
Speed limiters for everyone. Cars included. Bet they’re not interested in that. Strict enforcement of everyone. Cars included. Their is about 30% more traffic than their should be out here. Thin the herd. Start pulling liscenses of people driving like fools(cars & trucks), increase standards for driving tests and traffic will ease up some. And so will accidents.
Mack says
That is something I could agree with, but it will never happen. Politicians count votes. Speed limiters in cars would end a politician’s career. No one will touch it. Truckers however are fair game. We are subhuman after all.
Mike says
It’s so easy to get regular driver license some of the drivers doesn’t have even basic skills to drive You have to see it how difficult it’s get regular driver license in Europe average driver must be properly educated how to deal with the all kind of situation on the road
EX fuel hauler says
Automatic brakes are dangerous on trucks. The technology isnt there yet. An AEB almost killed me.
I was driving a tanker with 7800gl of diesel on a snowy/slick road. The AEB had a false positive. The system slammed on the brakes causing the tractor to start jack knifing. It was luck got me straightened back out.
I’m not ashamed to say my butt was puckered so tight it took a week to get my pants off.
These safety advocates have no idea what the real world consequences of their “solutions” are.
CoveringBases says
I think I am more angry about the auto-brakes than any other of the supposed “safety features.” 3 times in 3 very different situations, those brakes have almost done me in.
1) I was hauling doubles down a mountain. My truck started SLAMMING on my brakes! Stupid stupid.
2) I was bobtailing in heavy traffic, and was accelerating in preparation to get over a lane. I saw the approaching stopped traffic WITH MY EYEBALLS, and was fully aware that it was there, and at what rate I was approaching it. I was just pulling over into the next lane, when my truck slammed on its own brakes so hard, it nearly CAUSED an accident. I was belted in, but still went flying. EVERYthing in my truck went flying. It physically hurt.
3) This was just last night. I was driving on snow and ice. I had plenty of distance between me and the car in front of me. The car in front of me slammed on its brakes, and my truck didn’t even give me a chance to respond before it slammed on the brakes! On snow and ice!
Yes, pleeeeese can we have even more “safety features” installed?!
Jamieleetodd says
If they think the shortage of truck drivers is low now wait till they pass some stupid law like this. I’ve drove in a truck that was governed at 62 miles an hour and it was depressing. If they pass this crap I’ll hang up my CDL and work elsewhere.
Stan Imboden says
For all the idiots that what speed limiters in big trucks, next time you get behind two trucks running side by side for miles,,,,,,just think what the roads will look like with ALL trucks running exactly the speed!!!! People think road rage is bad now, they haven’t seen anything yet, lol
Reuben Titus says
Absolutely no speed limiters please, they cause more traffic congestion and reduce safety, along with causing driver frustration. I have driven big trucks with speed limiter and without enough to know what they do. It takes more control away from the driver putting it in the hands of a non thinking unreasoning electronic device. If yer going to train a person to drive a truck and trust them to do it safely, then might as well trust them to keep it at a safe speed as well, don’t take control away from them.
The ELD causes driver frustration and worry with an electronic device threatening to violate them for minor innocent infractions. And just that will make drivers less safe. Combine that with limited parking available many places and you have a nonfunctional system that’s going to cause problems, putting drivers into many impossible situations and situations that impose unsafe driving.
James Hill says
Statistics already show split speed limits increase accidents because cars are traveling faster than trucks and weaving in and out to get by. Limiting truck speeds would increase this unsafe situation. Anyone who’s driven a limited truck or been stuck behind one knows they can back up traffic for miles trying to pass. Heavier trucks go faster downhill and lighter ones go faster up. Two trucks can just sit tying up both lanes when one pulls forward then the other.
This idea is just one of many by morons who come up with “feel good” solutions to “save lives” without any actual evidence of the real effect. Like seat belts, airbags and leg protectors on motorcycles all proposed as mandatory before actual testing showed all of them to increase risk of injury and death.
Max says
Speed limiters I can handle. I don’t like, but could handle. However, Automatic Emergency Braking are accidents waiting to happen. A sensor decides when I need to brake. This includes anything from coming too close to a unit in front of me to a false reading indicating the need to apply ‘hard’ braking immediately (as in stopped traffic in front of me).
It’s the latter that concerns me. The company I work for placed these sensors in 20 of it’s units for testing. (We were paid by the truck manufacturer to be beta testers). Within the first 24 hours, two trucks jackknifed and within 48 hours there were four more accidents all attributed to this braking system. All the units were recalled immediately.
The units read shadows, bridge abutments, vehicles pulling in front of you with out adequate distance, oncoming vehicles in the opposite lane (two lane highways) as well as ‘phantom’ objects.
While the idea may sound good, we are apparently a long way from a sensor that reads properly and algorithms that read those sensed objects properly.
Many of you have the same basic ‘tool’ in your car or pickup, only it flashes a heads up display and releases your cruise control. (on some luxury cars it would apply braking pressure as well). How many false alarms do you get with that sensor?
We would be better served (in my opinion) if we ran a series of public service ads instructing people how their interaction with trucks affects public safety.
Karl Caldwell says
Haul the freight by the hour pay the contractors by the hour pay the drivers by the hour obligate people to pay overtime and you’ll see , nobodys boss wants to pay so many hours if you get overtime after 8 hours. Then the truck driver makes $150,000. A year. It’s very easy to regulate in my opinion no more speeding no more hurrying . No more stress stuck in traffic that’s fine I’m on overtime. So my solution is more money to those who actually do the work.
Harley says
Amen Karl, Amen!!!
Mrs. C says
It’s so sad how everything that happens on the road is the semi drivers fault. More amazing that nobody care to see it and yet the claim is to be all about safety. Also I think that REAL facts need to be addressed here. We are ALL distracted at one point or another while driving and realistically I would say it’s ok to grab your drink or change the station on your radio once it’s safe to do so because it’s ridiculous to think that a driver is supposed to sit their whole shift not drinking or changing the station on their radio. One of the biggest things is people on their phones and it’s done any time the person feel like it and how do you contend that? The laws are in place but not enforced. It seem as though the laws are to throw the blame in the drivers lap when it’s society fault as a whole to be safe on the road we are ALL to blame and there need to be a plan for the REAL facts! Another thing is we need to use common sense and mind our own business instead of someone else’s if someone is speeding or you feel is driving distracted call the police it’s not your job to hop in front or confront them because your actions effect everyone around you on the road, you can cause an accident or just hold up traffic. Lastly, I wish drivers would come together on some stance we NEVER band together on anything and what every driver fail to realize you are affected every time a law os created for drivers. Why?! Because to society we are all drivers be it IC’s, OO, or company. Be it a semi or a box truck. We are not out here for fun we are ALL in it to provide for ourselves and our family and that’s what will be affected and that’s the REAL reason.
Harley says
Again another, Amen Mrs. C. Amen! 🙂
Vitor says
This is just a way to pave the road to automated trucks. Small victories like this clear the way to faster legalization of legistation
Jason says
People get angry enough as it is when they get stuck behind a truck passing another at just 1 mph faster. What will they do when those two trucks are now going the same speed?
If this passes, it had better include a law that the truck getting passed has to back off for a second to allow the other to pass quickly. Because nobody out here is courteous enough to do it otherwise.
Kuldip Nag says
D.O.T JUST want to protect their jobs only ,not for public safety. ELD means INFLATION. who will suffer , TAX PAYER. DOT IS BAKING THEIR BREAD BY SUCKING TAX PAYER BLOOD. public is getting poor due to new law
James Nelson says
It will only add to the congestion and slow down the delivery of goods driving up the cost you’ll see a lot more trucks blocking all the lanes trying to pass when they don’t have that extra speed to get around
Yoda says
hen they fail, they apply the tractor brakes randomly. Just as the computer being tied to the ABS sensors resulted in trucks self wrecking during the last brilliant decade of automated trucks, this will kill and maim drivers and motor ehicles around them. Pete and KW are already having these issues with their lane avoidance sensors randomly getting moisture that triggers the truck brakes on any terrain at any time or speed.
bobtrucks says
Was driving a new Volvo with that automatic brake system and every time I went under certain overpasses it would jam on the brakes for a half second. Very scary. Fortunately it would let go. What if it doesn’t?
Kelly says
I’ve got been driving in this industry 12 yrs and am 57. I grew up around trucks as my stepfather was life long driver. I’ve been an O/O 11 of these, with the same truck bought 10 years ago. In this time I’ve had three mishaps of my own doing two in yards with minor damage, marker on a light bar, corner of a dry van with trailer door, and a McDs parking lot. I confessed all immediately, paid and moved on. I’ve had two motorists run into me, one merging into traffic Chicago rush, one in KC changing lanes, I wasn’t nor at fault as in my lane. Last week another truck driver who missed a split that was 4 lanes two two different directions each. Trying to cross from the shoulder two lanes to get to a third to make his, instead of going to next exit and turning around, 3 miles up the road. I’m the second lane or left lane for my direction and this is a 70mph zone. I saw what he was going to try and moved as far left in my lane towards median shoulder to give him room. He struck the right rear of my reefer with his tractor. No one hurt, not a DOT reportable, however 20k in damage to last 20 feet of trailer and 6 to 8 weeks at shop. I say this because I enjoy what I do and make great money. If forced to have a speed limiter and automatic braking, I’m done. Automatic braking in this instance would have caused me to slow by braking for me lose control and hit him tractor to tractor. As it was by being able to maintain speed and control to move over avoided that and just have a glancing blow, basically. I had to replace a wheel and tire to drive away, him nothing. A trooper was called by us each came, and didn’t issue a citation. I’m not totally on board with that part, but again no one hurt, no other vehicles, and life goes on. I’m thinking about a bullseye on each side at each end and the center, then maybe I’ll be missed! 😉
Glenn Davis says
Just wait until every truck is limited to 62 or 65 mph. It will be like running a freight train in front of the entrance ramps. Damn sure won’t be able to go left, where they’re doing 70-75. And only maneuver available to left anyone on is slow down, which runs a chain reaction backwards. Its bad enough with 4 or 5 big trucks stuck right laning on entrance ramps. Just imagine every truck on the road “limited” to that lane only.
Mark Jett says
This is rediculous most companies already do tjis with the 64 mph or less governor setting and the bendix breaking system and in my opinion the bendix is unsafe for several reasons, the only time a truck should break is when the driver does it themselves cuz the bendix does it unnecessarily in most cases and catches the driver off gaurd when it does.
J H says
My experience with automatic breaking on semis can be dangerous, as the truck cant tell when there is a car tailgating.
Stephen Harris says
Dam straight. Limit cars as well as trucks. Cars break checking trucks happens all the time. Car that is limited like the truck can’t pass to break check the truck. Then after you loose your rights to buy a car that does not have a limit on it, you lose your rights to everything else.
Kevin Chevalier says
Anything to slow things down even more and ta think they researched this? they need to govern the 4 wheelers as well, i’m so sick of these morons making our lives harder than it already is when’s it gonna stop? what have they done
to make it safer? this control thing is out of control!!! it’s not enough to know
where you are at all times able to fine you for something you did a week ago
to dictate all your time now they want to control your speed? ain’t no money
worth the crap we have to put up with, they call you a professional but treat you like an imbecile that needs over seeing, I don’t know you but i’m quite capable
of managing my job and my life on my own, so much for the freedom of the
open road being your own boss what a joke this industry has become, to have
people who have most likely never stepped foot on a truck dictating to you how
to do a job they’ve never done is unrealistic, I know run it legal make em feel it
don’t be in a hurry the more money it cost em the more it’ll hurt.
Short Circuit says
ABSOLUTELY
William says
Automatic Emergency Brakes is in themselves a safety risk!!! I have them already and if a car cuts in front real close they jam on instantly. it’s very unsafe when in bad snowy, ice covered roads and get cut in front of..now we have a very dangerous situation..AEB’s aren’t the answer. The four wheelers need to not cut so close in front of trucks..and some big trucks as well.
Trish says
The drivers don’t need more regulations. This is one reason for the driver shortage ( if there actually is one ) they ( congress ) can’t seem to follow rules themselves and just want to throw more on the hard working people. If the federal government insists on making so many regulations, then the drivers should be entitled to the same benefits as other federal employees.
Joe Barilari says
I’m okay with speed limiters as long as cars and cop cars also have them set to the SAME SPEED.
Gun magazine capacity limits are also stupid, ,, again, so long as cops (on duty and off) have to use them I’m less offended.
I’m STILL OFFENDED, but what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
William says
Politicians seem to forget and 4 wheelers also , that the interstate system was designed for trucks in the 1st place, so goods could be expideted , but yet we are the ones regulated and told which lanes we can use!!!
Ri ma says
I wonder how much more the truckers are going to take before they decide to shut it down. How else will we get they’re attention. I don’t think you realize how much influence we have.
Short Circuit says
I agree !
Dan says
Why are they bothering with this? They will get all that and more with driverless vehicles won’t they?
Katie says
These so-called safety groups need to take a look at Truckers dash cams and they will find that maybe cars need to have speed limiters
Short Circuit says
These people are IDIOTS !!! What’s do they thinks gonna happen when it ‘EMERGENCY ‘brakes on slippery roads ? Not to mention the slower speed traffic jams It’s hard enough to make any money with ELD’s and they want to slow us down Study’s show that over 75% of accidents involving cars that the car is at fault so maybe they should consider slowing the cars down instead of trucks but nah that would mean the IDIOTS that are pushing all of this stupid crap would be affected and they wouldn’t have that. My solution would be EVERYONE SHUT DOWN AND LET THEM DRIVE SINCE THEY KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT HOW IT SHOULD BE DONE !!
They don’t like trucks and don’t want them on the road so let give them what they want SHIT DOWN… no food no fuel no material for factory’s AMERICA STOPS !! They will change their attitude towards trucks !!
Dan the man says
I am from Ontario and I can assure you that if you have a speed limiter that you will get cut off at every offramp and you will get brake-checked much more often. Prepare to be abused.
Now if you add automatic braking as soon as the little bastards catch on you’re done. All they will have to do is pull in front and brake check you and your load will be snapping tie downs because your truck will be braking for you.
Its fucken well about time they start addressing the huge problem of the 4 wheel instigators and those who treat trucks like pylons. They think speed limiters, EDL’s and automatic braking is the easiest answer but they’re wrong.
Anyone who has driven through Toronto can tell you speed limiters make truck follow too close because the 4 wheelers know they can just run up the fast lane and plow in right in front of you to exit because you can’t tap the accelerator to protect yourself.
Although we have the law here many don’t comply so now you have a mix of frustrated trucker with governors and LCV’s moving 10 mph faster which causes friction between commercial drivers but all agree on the solution to that. REMOVE the dam governor and simply charge the speeders and reckless drivers both truckers and 4 wheelers.
Bob says
How were your hours of service cut?
Sara says
What’s that song? I can’t drive 55. Let’s get the 4 wheelers off the road their too fast. Always the car behind me is driving faster than I am .
BJ says
And I bet that most of this coalition’s members have stock in the companies that make this garbage they are putting on the trucks. I know how about we put speed limiters on all 4 wheelers and see how everybody would enjoy them ….I mean wouldn’t we all be safer if everyone was going the same speed?? Lol and auto braking is great when snow gets on the sensor and slams the brakes on unexpectedly on slick roads it happens it’s done it to me many times. If you cant drive a truck safely all this electronic junk won’t help.
LS says
Do you have any idea how many drivers would die if AEB were installed on their truck? Every single day I see loads not secured properly and if the driver were to slam o. Their brakes, their load would be in the cab. I call these suicide trucks.
Jack says
Kkkk… okay, after all the BS rules imposed on us plus triple taxation in general, now they want makes us go even slower than we already go??… Fine, as soon as they and the US population are willing to pay the bill…here we go: 75cpm for under 1 year OTR drivers ; 90cpm for up to 5 years OTR drivers ; $1/mile for 6 years+ OTR drivers. So make sure that all these coalitions demand this figures to Congress too, to be passed into law!
Orland says
And we call America land of the free, communist China has more freedom than us, this is total control, who is the government to control the speed on my truck, is my truck, this is getting ridiculous
Jeff says
I am so glad I finally got a company in which I work that my truck will do the speed limit I felt so unsafe driving 10 to 15 mph under the speed limit with cars and trucks passing me at 10 mph over the speed limit If anything Congress needs to make these big carriers and Little ones as well raise the speed limit on our trucks so we can all do the speed limit that would be the safest thing going all these morons that want to lower the speed of the trucks or a bunch of idiots this will drastically increase accidents and decrease safety anybody with a brain stem knows that
Jeff says
4-12-2019 be home or stopped possibly longer
David says
I’ve had 4 wheelers to pass me ( and you have also )to make the off ramp , that I am passing! Luckily, they missed the sign post that are in the grass , taking a chance on their life and others around, just to get there quicker. Do the math, how long does it take for a 70′ space at 60 or 65 mph to pass a point? Less than 1 second, now you wonder why they do such things? And the answer is STUPID!! Plus their #1 and everyone else is in their way! As we all know- You can’t fix STUPID. I really don’t mind if they should kill themselves but, I do mind if they should include me or someone else in this suicide attempt! We’re subject to fines if we use handheld phones or text while driving but,I’ve seen drivers of4wheelers texting which caused them to swerve dangerously! As to the “crash avoidance radar” coupled in with the brake system, they can cram it as far as they can get it. Drove a truck with it, probably the most unsafe truck I’ve driven. It detected papers, overhead road signs , bridges and numerous other things. Luckily, I was on dry or wet roads , if I was on a slick road, it would have been ” Katy Bar The Door” . No thank you very much! Also, speed limiters are another unsafe invention we’re plagued with! The biggest problem we all have out on the road is the IDIOT behind the wheel which, seems to be mostly in the 4 wheelers.
Richard Friend says
It’s just another way that special interest groups are tying the hands of truckers we’re already the most regulated group of any American industry! I say that we the truck drivers of America shutdown and take back control of our destiny! Tell special interest groups to sit and spin we pay taxes to! It’s hard enough to make a living driving a truck. Its time to level the playing field!!!!!
CoveringBases says
This makes me so angry! Last night, I was driving on icy and snowy roads. I was keeping plenty of distance between me and the car in front of me. Occasionally, some suicidal moron would cut me off, but I would just ease back on the throttle and wait it out until more space was between us. But then! A car up ahead slammed on their brakes, and without even giving me a chance to do a thing, my truck decided to SLAM ON MY BRAKES! In the snow! I was so angry. And to hear that these supposed “safety” groups are wanting that mandated?!?! I hope they are the first victims of an accident caused by this mindless overreach.
Robert says
Yeah we have that bendix crap on our truck. Luckily it hasnt caused an accident yet.. but I do not trust them at all.
Pete says
This , along with the ELDs is all a part of the Mega carriers plans to drive the small firms and O/Os out of business. The Mega carriers can’t compete equally with the small firms and O/Os so the use their $$$ to lobby Congress to implement ELDs and Speed Limiters to make it easier for them to compete. They say it’s in the name of “safety” so everyone will jump on board.
Robert says
As a trucker with 20 yrs experience I can only say that changing a few laws could improve things. The northern states should install electronic speed limit signs like some states and alter the speed limit by current road conditions. Also lane control signs where it could work to allow fire, police to clear a lane in case of an emergency. Getting information to drivers is crucial. If they want spoed limiters… set cars at maximum of 80mph and big trucks at 75mph. Thats plenty fast enough and will clear up some of the speed difference concerns. Phase it in slowly but force ALL big rigs to be set at 75.. not simply up to 75.. but actually at 75. Get traffic flowing at the same speed.
Arthur Kilbarger says
Politicians got too much to worry about They don’t need to regulate road speed.People who are pushing this have No idea of what goes on in the real World
Super trucker says
Drug dealers and criminals have more rights and freedoms than us truck drivers
TheRealTrucker says
This would be amazing if passed. If they hate us now, wait until they have two trucks governed at 55mph going side by side on every interstate in America. That would be hilarious!! We would block up everything, would be great way to put that foot right in their mouths.