It’s been coming for a long time and now it’s finally here. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is finally introducing legislation to require speed limiters in vehicles over 26,000 pounds.
While an enforced rule is still likely a long way off, the FMCSA has just taken the first concrete step towards requiring an incredibly controversial piece of technology. They have not yet set a specific speed limit, but in the proposal the agency examined the possibility of limiting speeds to 60, 65, or 68 mph.
Speed limiters have been available for a long time now with advocates saying that they make highways safer. Indeed, the analysis provided in the proposal claims that a 60mph limit would prevent between 162-498 highway deaths per year, while the 68 mph limit would prevent between 27-96 deaths per year. All three speeds would result in thousands of fewer injuries.
The reason the FMCSA claims that speed limiters make the roads safer is fairly obvious – slower vehicles cause less damage when they crash. But critics claim that forcing heavy vehicles to drive much slower than the surrounding traffic creates additional hazards. It also impedes a driver’s ability to speed up if he or she needs to accelerate out of a dangerous situation.
“Highways are safest when all vehicles travel at the same relative speed. This wisdom has always been true and has not ever changed,” said OOIDA executive vice president, Todd Spencer, who has strongly opposed mandatory speed limiters. “No technology can replace the safest thing to put in a truck, which is a well-trained driver.”
Safety is not the only concern when it comes to speed limiters though. According to the proposed rule, the cost savings from reduced fuel consumption, fatalities, and pollution would equal a total of anywhere from $500 million to over $5 billion a year depending on what the speed is capped at.
If the proposed rule does end up becoming law, speed limiters would be required in all new vehicles. While the FMCSA has not yet called for them to be installed in existing vehicles, they are “seeking public comment to improve our understanding of the real-world impact of implementing a speed limiting device retrofit requirement.”
New speed limiters would also have a new feature: Storing previous speed limiter settings. Law enforcement would need to be able to check not only what the speed limiter is currently set at, but also the two previous settings along with a time and date that they were changed. This would theoretically prevent drivers or carriers from setting a higher ceiling on the limiter, only to lower it to a legal level when they are inspected.
The FMCSA will be seeking public comment on the notice of proposed rulemaking when it is officially published in the Federal Register, but for now, you can read the notice that’s currently available online here.
Source: fmcsa, fmcsa, fmcsa, gobytrucknews, truckinginfo, fleetowner, fleetowner, fleetowner, overdrive, overdrive, fmcsa, joc
Scott says
You think the average citizen is angry having to maneuver through truck traffic now? Wait until every truck on the road is stuck behind every other truck on the road with no way to break up miles of truck clusters… Next they would have to make truck passing illegal to keep lanes open for all non truck traffic.. It’s completely ridiculous top to bottom. They have no idea what kind of coast to coast congestion this brilliant idea will result in. Anyone remember a little section of I-15 between Barstow and Apple Valley, CA about 15-16 years ago? All trucks were restricted to right lane only with no passing allowed. It caused 15 miles of bumper to bumper trucks almost 24 hours a day. Another case of good intentions that will hurt far more than it will help.
What a joke says
That won’t happen. They plan on kicking more trucks off the road. Forcing unemployment and the cost of living sky rocket again. So they can blame something else on truckers. Just so they can take more jobs. Once you realize that they have spend nearly 40 years of building hatered towards truckers. Just so they can get control of the main part of the supply chain. Only to get control of the people. They plan on cutting the world population in half the first time. Then in half again. So by forcing the cost of living up. And cutting down on assistance programs. And making health care unaffordable. People will start during as a result. Mainly people of live within the poverty line.
Dan says
In Missouri, we had an idiot, hifalutin state senator that wanted to restrict all commercial vehicles to the right lane. Fortunately, OOIDA was able to show this dim-wit what a catastrophe it would cause. But, they still decided to restrict commercial vehicles from the left lane where there are three lanes or more in the same direction, also a stupid law.
mert says
i say instead the 590 that we pay, we cut that and pay 1/3 if that’s all we can use.
Mrfred40 says
Years ago a guy named Murphy ran TRAILWAYS. He put speed limiters on all of Continental Trailways buses. It was a mechanical device.
It limited us to 55mph as I recall. It only limited speed in fourth gear. (the highest gear we had) We found that if we put pressure on the shift leaver toward neutral, we could by pass the limiter and get on down the road.
However, that was then and this is now. Electronics will govern the speed now. Years ago I worked for J.B. Hunt. They sent me to Springfield OH. for a new tractor. Electronic speed limiter on it. With a 9 speed transmission it would run faster in 8th gear than in 9th.
The speed limiter did not last long. Loads were late, driver turnover went up higher than normal. Something will stop this proposed speed limiter after is put into effect.
ynp says
nope, my truck will not be governed. don’t care what law they pass.
Patrick Crum says
Total Bull. The govt already limits our hours and now wants to limit or speed. Basically they want to limit our ability to provide for our families . How about concentrating in something like making cell phones inoperable to Text and internet when moving above 5 mph??? How about imposing speed limiters on cars? Trucks are not the problem. Wake the hell up.
Bob R says
Thank you , looks like someone is awake out there!
What a joke says
The cut’em to 60 I’m done. Won’t make anything.don’t make anything at 65 now. At 60 welfare will pay alot better. Plus added to The fact that they have no plans to enforce speed limiter on vehicles under 26,000 lbs… oh no! Wait if they do that. They won’t be able to do 85 mph into work. Or on the way home to catch tjhe game on tv with a 6 pack there chugging on in tow. I used the ongaurd anti collision system. It’s biggest benifit is. I know the traffic around me is doing anverage speed of 93 mph. That’s entirely too fast for anything to be going on the highway. How about the usdot mandate speed limited in vehicles under 26,000 lbs. And for the vehicle’s that electronic speed l imiters can’t be installed on. Be required to have specail permit and special driver certification class in order to operate it on the public road ways. I think the speed l imiters on vehicles under 26,000 lbs. Should limited to a maximum speed of 70 mph. That will save how many more thousands of lives every year?
terry says
RESTRICTOR Plate racing
Kaiyla says
I’m restricted to 60 and I make close to 60k a year, what’s your problem? I’m glad about it. No more idiot drivers going 70 or 80 in places they shouldn’t.
CCobb says
Your just mad cause your always getting passed.
Kerry Inman says
That and those that can only run 60mph, usually do their top speed everywhere. Truckstop parking lots, rest areas, and through the fuel islands. Everywhere common sense would advocate against doing such speeds.
Earl says
60k a year should be more like 80 to 100k we are consider professionals after all
Sandy Pekah says
Make trucks go slower and let cars go faster, makes sense if you’re a moron.
Robert says
Nothing makes sense from someone named sandy pecker, or with one.
Thomas Mears says
Watch the incidents spike when you have a truck governed at 63 passing a truck governed at 60 and the most important person in the world decides to cut between the two trucks.
Thomas Mears says
You may be telling the truth and if it’s so, you have no home life. I’m governed at 70 and I have my trailer unhooked, my gear in the car and 33 and one half hours left before I have to be back before you make it to town.
Irvin Zimmerman says
You mean like the speed limited trucks that cannot slow down for work zones or lower speed zones?
Bob R says
your missing the point!
Bob Bennett says
Western states have a speed limit of 75 to 80 ,, is that a problem?
Vic says
How about you put this comment somewhere where it really matter s. Your voice won’t get heard here….
scott hayden says
And you think it’s difficult to find drivers now?
s says
its always best to slow the ecomony with slower truckers, look at what has happen to the ecomony when speed limit was increase back in 1990’s. So what if it takes longer for products to get to merchants, doesn’t matter if joe gets paid ontime.
Joe says
Instead of putting the limiters on cmv’s, how about putting them on personal vehicles that drive way over the limit and cause us the grief.
Dan says
There are too many people, in four wheeled vehicles, that get mad because of the truck in front of them that can’t go any faster than it’s already going, and decide to take retribution on the truckdriver, by passing the truck as close as they can without running into the truck. I told a trooper, “Where are you when too many of these people in four wheeled vehicles do this and a lot of other stupid manuvers to us in trucks? You’re nowhere to be found, and even fi you were there, you would let them get away with it. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.”
Lara Ce says
More B.S., impeding the speed of a vehicle is an accident looking to happen. If you don’t trust the driver to not to use undue speed then don’t hire him or her.
John Beech says
I predict a roaring business in an app expressly for finagling limiters.
Jeff says
That’s really nice they’re going to have it open to the public for a hearing most people are not going to comment on this me along with a lot of other truck drivers and citizens know that this is ignorant this administration has never liked trucks and never will also has implemented more ignorant stupid restrictions on the trucking industry since they’ve been in there anyone with a brain stem knows the traffic going the same speed or close to the same is a lot safer the ATA is paid off by the government and lately has been totally against the drivers in which is supposed to stand up for and there is a lot of law-enforcement that are rookies and jerks, in my personal vehicle I recently got stopped not ticketed for driving too slow this was late at night he said I was impeding traffic and was only going 5 miles under the speed limit and he was the only one behind me. We here everywhere trucks are so slow trucks are so slow and the government wants to slow them down more, and the states are raising speed limits everywhere across the nation that really makes a lot of sense just like anything else the government does in the trucking industry leave us alone!!!! It’s a proven fact 80% of crashes involving a big truck is the four wheelers fault. Concentrate on them running 90&100 mph, and the crashes would go down DUH!!! Or be real ignorant and put governors on cars so they can’t do more than 65 or 68 .
B W says
Have you any idea how hard it is to read something with ZERO punctuation? Those pesky little symbols were created for a reason. Please use them, as continued posting of comments without punctuation only makes the poster look ignorant.
TomM says
Ditto! Posters, puh-leeze take a moment to go back and read what you just wrote before pressing the “post” button. Just to see if it makes sense.
Bob R says
this is a forum for truckers, not English teachers
David Bugg says
Why the long run-on sentence. Skipping the use of punctuation when you want people to read and easily understand what one has written, is akin to putting speed limiters on tractor-trailers in order to make those vehicles more productive 🙂
Rufus Crank says
My trucks speed limiters are the little white signs at the side of the road.just because 4 wheelers cant drive,doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be able to. Speed limiter trucks are obstacles that create traffic problems.
McClendon says
Does that include you when your driving a 4-wheeler? Obviously if more truckers were like you they wouldn’t have to use speed limiters. Unfortunately most aren’t, resulting in killing innocent families. My grandfather was killed by a idiot trucker going too fast for the size of his truck. I know it’s all about you and your a super trucker who always follows the speed limit.
Keith says
You can say what you want, and I’m sorry about your grandfather. But study after study has proven, that the car, called a four wheeler has been at fault in more than 85% of the wrecks involving big trucks. They are good and bad drivers everywhere. But when you governor a truck weighing 80000lbs you will create more of a mess than you have now. The four wheelers say we can’t drive, the truck drivers say the four wheelers can’t drive. The point is everyone needs to slow down, and the police need to start doing their job of enforcing the speed limit, of all vehicles.
SDT says
I agree,Kieth.It was a problem back in the early 70’s.high speeds were a major factor in traffic fatalities and accidents(70-75mph).Now we have speeds in excess of 75mph cell phone violations and multi tasking at these high speeds.And yes you are right about the law enforcement NOT performing their duties at 100%,hell,I have seen several patrol units on ramps napping.It is time for the public to hold the police accountable as well as 911 dispatchers for Not performing their duties.I myself reported an unsafe motorist to 911,nothing was done about it.an hour and a half later that motorist had caused a major accident.
John says
This is a mute point. With computers controlling vehicles, It’s only a matter of time before we all go the same speed controlled by the highway system. Intelligent Road System (IRS). A lot of the roads are already wired. You wont be able to get close to the vehicle next to yours.
Our freedom with the automobile is over.
Jude Ossowski says
Your grandfather was killed by ONE truck driver so ALL truck drivers need to be punished? How many people have to be killed by those air bags before they’re removed? How many testers will kill innocent highway users before text sending devices are banned from moving vehicles?
Sam says
Time to quit driving im an owner operator not a prision inmate yet i have less rights and freedom. Than a prisoner in a foreign prison . i do wonder how people in this country are going to get the things they need stores will be empty atms wont have money fuel will be in ships at ports and what does make it to a store will have trippled in price. Not to mention another few million plus people will become unemployed. This country is insane blame every bad thing on a truck driver its always the truck at fault in an accident. Maybe if the lazy sue crazy people who read them trashy billboards law firms put up to encourage people to sue a trucking company after they purposely caused the accident cause that low life lawyer & law firm says you could get millions and politicans who have never seen the inside of a tractor or couldnt shift thru 18 gears to save their own life. Why arent these laws being porposed for all vehicles. Or better yet just inact prohibition on all vehicles see if that works as well as it did when they tried it on alcohol. Next is facial reconition software so if i blink to slow or sneeze i volitate another stuid law for truck drives . maybe ill join the rest of this countrys dumb lazy sue crazy country and apply for food stamps welfare disability and wont even have to take a drug test get a medical card answer to stuipd people on my log book for every 15 mins of everyday working or not . Im done free food health care sleeping till noon laying on a beach or in front of a warm fireplace . instead of freezing my ass off half the year draging them heavy chains out of belly box to chain up cause some dumb ass in a car going way to fast in a snowstorm the hit his brakes on that bridge back there spins out causing 30 vehicle wreck all the while texting on their phone . Yup. Here i come life on easy street.
PS i left the key in the ignition mr/mrs politician lets see you get the load there on time or at all
John says
Slower trucks, more road rage from the motoring public. Instead of a driver getting the finger, they will now be shot at for having a rolling road block of 40 miles. Say nothing of violating constitutional rights of discrimination against truck drivers. If you slow all trucks this way, then slow all motor vehicles the same way. While this MAY save a few lives, doing this to ALL vehicles would save tens of thousands. Think of what happened on I-30 in Arkansas when they put up split speed limit signs. They learned real quick it was a BAD idea.
Steve says
I agree, if they slow down trucks…. slow down EVERYONE!
Tradescany says
Agree totally , they have figured about how many deaths and how much fuel it will save if they do it for all trucks. Imagine what a eutopia we will have with everyone doing the same speed down the highway. Why do we have millions of cars on the highway able to do 140 mph when the speed limit in most places is 75?. We all know the answer to that. Guess its fashionable to pick on truckers and they have to justify their stupid job and department somehow. I would support this program 100% if every vehicle on the road is so governed.
B W says
While I get your point, truck drivers aren’t a federally protected group. Your claim of discrimination, while true, would not stand up in court.
Jude Ossowski says
OK, just let the drivers who can’t speak English or read directions run as fast as they want. While soon to become the majority, I believe they are still a minority.
A.J. says
Oh look yet another rule. Imagine that! At what point is enough enough. FMCSA, DOT, CSA, income tax, state tax, local tax, business tax, fuel tax, tolls, E logs etc. Now speed limiters. What other rule or tax can they hit drivers with? Forget facts like most crashes are the fault of four wheelers and that most drivers are responsible and care about the job that they do. There are bad drivers but there is a larger percentage of bad drivers in cars that create problems on the road. I was under the impression that all these alphabet agencies that mentioned earlier where put in place to help not hurt our industry. This is just another attempt at yet another control of the industry. Wouldn’t it be nice if the alphabet crew would just get out of the way of hard working people who are just trying to make a living? Gee I can’t imagine why companies are folding and the industry is having trouble attracting new sheep, I mean people, to the industry. Just another example of government over regulation and interference in the name of safety and or environment. I still love my occupation I wouldn’t trade it for the world but goodness sakes enough already. We’re all adults out here.
What a joke says
Here’s a better idea. How about mandating an autonomous speed limiter system on every motor vehicle regardless of size. That limits the vehicle’s speed based on the speed zone it’s in. Easy to do. Install a metal or magnetic strip across the road way 100 feet before every speed zone change. With a chip that has the speed limit for the area in it. And then insta the electronic chip reader on the vehicles.When the vehicle’s cross over the chip on the road for the posted speed limit. The vehicles computer automatically reduces the speed of the vehicle. And congress along with the state’s can say we’re not governing your vehicle. We’re controlling the speed limit of the roads you are using. That away nobody can sue saying it’s unconstitutional or in fair.
Frank says
This is a horrible idea. I drive in Canada and trucks are limited at 65 and it causes problems. I can’t imagine what it would do to US interstates Definite road rage , driver stress woukd be a huge factor not to mention so many other problems A great place to study would be I -75 south between Detroit and Toledo Bi dread it every day when I have to do it
Rat face says
Bs I been driving 65 mph for over 10 years and it doesn’t call any stress as usual excuse and excuse
Jonathan says
I was limited to 64. I typically drive 62 just to allow room to speed up if needed. That took care of most problems.
The problem with this proposed law is that it will apply to all trucks. It was difficult when I met another driver locked to the same speed I was. Would’ve been great to increase speed by 5 or 10 mph to get around traffic and back into my cruising lane at my cruising speed.
In addition, those hills suck in a governed vehicle. Even Andy Griffith allowed trucks in his town to get a good run in before attempting to climb up Fancy Gap.
Tommy says
Here we go again !!! Let’s start with the elog system which from what I hear is becoming manditory soon. The only people and or companies (drivers included ) that will survive this change will be carriers that have about 90% or better drop and hook freight. The rest will fall to the waste side because of loss time at shippers and receivers in live load and unload situation not to mention traffic and any other impeadent that is associated with getting full day’s work out of a 14 hour work day. Now let’s add a lesser manditory speed to the mix along with the delays and situations mention above. You guys are playing with the livelihood of the American truck driver. The ability to make money and care for our families is slowly being taken away and all you want to do is create even more restrictions with in the industry. If the government is dead set on these changes then how about starting with new policies with shipper and receivers that would allow drivers to have less down time. Once that system is fixed then perhaps your way of doing things to our industry want affect the driving family as hard. Each one of these law makers should be required to spend a week with a driver (one with restrictions and one that isn’t) to see how the real world works on a daily basis. I really think some of these foolish laws would start to die off just as the American Truck Driver will if these restrictions come to life.
Jonathan E. Wilhelm Sr says
I already have a 63 mile an hour speed limiter and everyday I have four 4-wheelers speeding past me and cutting me off.
Then about one in 30, Will then start to slow down and try to brake check me as an Act of Road Rage.
How does that make the highways any safer! ?
Juan R Robledo says
If I’m not mistaken, Swift,and JB Hunt, And Schneider, tried this for many years, also TMC, Werner and possibly countless other all proved to be dangerous, these companies bumped up the speed because driver’s were falling asleep due to the slow, turtle speed, if does occur then it should be mandated across the board to include 4wheelers, motorcycles, and anything that is driven on the highway
Rat face says
Wrong they still have the same speed 60-65 max try another excuse
Mike says
Wrong company trucks are 62mph o/of are 68mph
MpG says
Nah. 15+ years ago, Swift was capped at 60 (oh, the irony), Pumpkin at 62 (with 65 on the pedal), and JB at 65 (unless you had a road violation). But these days, most of their company trucks are cruising at 65.
Speaking as a Canadian who’s province has had a 105km/h (65mph) cap for awhile now, it’s not the end of the world. The one’s who rage are raging because they can’t stand to be going only 104.9km/h behind another truck. That’s not a legal issue, that’s a temperament issue, and they’re far more likely to be involved in one of the 10-30% of accidents that truckers DO cause.
But nobody’s going bankrupt over a few clicks, there are no delays worse than what you would have gotten from a badly-timed traffic light or two, and the happiest drivers are the one who realize that backing down to 103 means that each hour takes a whole 1 minute longer to accomplish, while making for a far more relaxing day.
Carl says
Swift, Schneider, JB Hunt, and Crete are all carriers I can pass. I run at a 65mph governed limit. The only exceptions are lease operators.
leandean says
Not in the west. Try 70 – 80 In a four wheeler depending on the state. 55 – 70+ in a truck.
Ted says
More government interference in the name of safety. Realistically driver to driver CDL drivers are safer than than our 4 wheeler counterparts. If they want speed Limiters in CMV’s then they should be on ALL vehicles using our highways, how is limiting a CMV speed safe when passenger vehicles are still doing 10 to 40 mph faster than us? If passed the FMCSA & ATA should be held legally and financially responsible for any crashes, deaths or property damage as a result of this ridiculous rule. I say shut down for 3-4 weeks nationwide just to get there attention and get the government out of the trucking business. We are regulated more than airline pilots. 32 years of CMV driving as both company and O/O and in that time the changes “IN THE NAME OF SAFETY ” are staggering. None have made any real impact on safety, the FMCSA is useless!! My truck is very capable of doing probably close to 100mph, does that mean I’m going to drive that fast, no way. 10 mph over and you could, I said could lose your CMV license driving privilege for a year. Not worth it.
Lois snow says
Well if that comes to pass were done. Everything is dumped on the truckers and yet the 4wheelers are hammer down and flipping, curring, n running us off. Even now these tk’s that only run 65 or so cause a backup because it takes them 10miles to pass each other.
Phantom 309 says
Just another case of some branch of the government coming up with more controlling legislation all in the name of safety. You can’t argue with anything laws that are supposedly all about safety,. Safety is a powerful excuse to let a government have more control over its sheeple.
You can legislate,. But it won’t fix stupid.
Anthony Bellard Sr. says
you sir,took the words right out of my mouth. I have 35 years,not all otr,some local, and it’s all part of a grand plan to take over and control, just like health care. Then they will say what goes where and when. Don’t worry we are not alone it’s happening to the electric and water companies also.It’s not just this administration, as muchildren as I hate them, it’s been in the works for 40+ years,they just get more done in some administrations more than others. It’s one world Order,but we must not sit on our hands and give up,never give up.
Tim says
Phantom’s got it exactly right. As I mentioned in a comment a couple weeks ago I call it “playing the carnage card.” Society rightly abhors the carnage caused by crashes so people tend to welcome anything that sounds like it might reduce them. (I’m guilty of this myself by the way—despite making my living as a driver I am a big proponent of driverless vehicles, but admit that I have no idea what the unintended consequences might be.)
If the government only cited fuel economy then speed limiters would be harder to oppose because it’s very well established that slower speeds burn less fuel.
Sometimes I think what annoys me the most about the FMCSA’s proposals is all they ever talk about is the perceived upsides. They present them as if they were all totally cut-and-dried with no downsides to consider at all. Regardless of whether it’s due to ignorance or intent, this failure to acknowledge the downsides really weakens their argument.
David tickle says
I’m trying to figure out how a survey or a study group can predict the future on how many lives it can save or how much property damage it can save! With all this technology in vehicles today you wonder why they don’t go ahead and limit cars to certain speeds as well as trucks but they don’t because they can’t with cars in which the consumers wouldn’t buy cars. Apparently we have no rights in the trucking industry and yes the ATA started out being a pusher for the rights of truckers, ATA has been bought by the government because large companies who has friends on the government has padded pockets of many politicians. Ooida, is basically a owner operator associated group and is working hard to fight for all truckers. I really think that it’s going to come a time that all truckers are going to be sitting at a stand still because of this government! Sorry for ranting on but this crap gives me a headache!
Stop the abuse says
This is insane and dumb , why so many rules against us ? And what about all those regular drivers the you see over the road without any knowledge driveng all stupid ? Is this continue like this i will star looking for another job because i don’t want to see the next law against us
Zoran Spasic says
We already earn less than minninum wage due to the way the trucking industry has structured our pay system this is another way of lowering our pay and in turn the governments income tax income. I wish they would just use there heads up there in Washington.
marcus w leonard says
How is it that when justifying ticking people for driving the speed limit in the left lane officials say that a car driving five miles per hour slower than the flow of traffic is more dangerous than a car traveling five miles per hour above the flow of traffic. But in this article advocates use just the opposite logic. Which is it. Seems to me they say whatever to support what they want. Fact or fiction.
Owen says
If you cap the time I drive and the speed I drive you have just made me a salary employee, if this is the case the DOT needs to go all the way and make me a government employee so that they can guarantee that I am able to make a living AND maintain my truck. Otherwise all they are doing is restricting my livelihood and my rights, aka communism, but with none of the “benefits.’
Mike says
Another bad thing that will probably follow…”Trucks use right lane only”
Cherokee says
You pay for it and you can limit it, I pay for it and I’ll drive it how I choose not you, just my car, pick-up or motorcycle. The feds will not tell me how to run my business PERIOD.
Joe says
Im convinced the fmcsa is run by the insurance industry.
Screwfist says
Almost everything is controlled in some way by insurance companies.
Tony Lama says
LOL! You’re probably right on that one! Hmmmm…makes me wanna check that out…..
Cherokee says
You pay for it and you can limit it, I pay for it and I’ll drive it how I choose not you, just like my car, pick-up or motorcycle. The feds will not tell me how to run my business PERIOD.
Jimmy says
According to the Ohio Commercial Drivers Manual, published July 0f 2014, and I quote “the safest speed is when all vehicles are traveling at the same speed.” Why do you think they (Ohio) got rid of the split speed limit? This is a bunch of over paid under worked fools with nothing better to do.
gEORGE says
If safety is such a real concern why not mandate Disc Brakes for all Trucks and Trailers. They have been out there for years but only a few safety conscious carriers pay the extra for them. Price would drop dramatically if they were standard equipment and mass produced. Then 80,000 lb tractor trailer could stop much faster and we would have less over heated brake failures.
This has been something that has baffled me for years, Fed’s only push through laws that are well funded and not based on real safety.
jc says
All drivers have to do is convoy, it worked in Indiana in the 80s with the 55/65 limit and they raised it to 60/65 now 65/70 . If the federal government is allowed to do this they must pay. Convoy thier butts and let the annoying 4wheels get what they deserve. For years they treat us like dirt and cut us off now it’s time to make them pay with the federal governments help.
Anthony Bellard Sr. says
I was happy to be a part of that,remember it like yesterday
Jeff says
Omg that’s it ??
Tony Lama says
Woo hoo! When do we start?
shogun says
Several states have done away with inspection stickers for vehicles. I’d say not even 1 in every 50 people check their car’s oil, tires, brakes, lights, etc yet I do this multiple times a day. So to say safety is the main concern is a stretch at best. I’d be willing to bet this is mainly driven by insurance companies and the trucking companies who are dictated by them to limit their speed. Therefore they want a level playing field. Follow the money and we’d probably see the ATA and major insurers.
Matt says
Actually if you follow the money, you find the railroads are funding all of these “studies”. With a projected increase in transportable goods in the future the rail is looking at getting a bigger cut. I mean look at the companies in the ATA. They are the big ones. Put more train yards in that only compliant companies can haul out of and what do you have?
Tony Lama says
Wow. Railroad companies. Wow. Let me say that again. Wow. Wow.
Steve says
Why don’t we just start now by driving the Minimum speed limit for about a week that should solve the problem. See how they Like That.Everyone stay in the right lane just to block all traffic tryin to get of and on the Intrastate
Chris Hinkle says
And these sensational headlines don’t help anything, this is far from. DONE. Why don’t you people just report the facts, we get plenty of fud from the msm.
stresnuts says
Yay, we all be snail racing each other trying to pass one another. Race you up Mt. Eagle!
John Burden says
This could easily cause drivers to run above lower posted speed limits to make up for time lost on open roads where reasonable speed should not be a factor. Government’s unintended consequences at work again!!!
Casey says
I’m an Uber driver in Houston considering getting into trucking. I witnessed an accident occur behind me on I-10 WB. This truck was going probably 62-63 in a 60, but the flow of traffic was going about 70-75. Now, if you don’t know this section of I-10, it’s one of the widest sections of interstate in the country at 16 lanes: 6 main lanes both ways, two HOV lanes both ways.
Anyways, there’s ROOM. There was no excuse for what I saw about a quarter Mike behind me unfold. This little piss ant Mercedes decides to brake check this truck out of nowhere which caused the truck to sway and swerve (yet mostly stay in their lane) triggering a chain reaction of accidents. ALL traffic stopped behind me across the 6 lanes, and needless to say say, that Mercedes got an ass pounding.
With this being said, I completely disagree about regulating the speeds for trucks. If we could all go the same speed, accidents like this could be prevented.
Minivans are also notorious for going slow because they think it’s safe. It isn’t about your speed, but the distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. People don’t realize this.
Tony Lama says
Do the 14 yr olds taking “driver education” learn how to pass and drive in the vicinity of hazmat tankers? My wife didn’t know any of those rules until she met me. And she was 50 yrs old.
Kevin Alexander says
Speed limits will cause more trucks to run in packs which is a no brainer. Think about the best raceway drivers in the world,Nascar. When they wreck at places like Charlotte or Indy it only involves three or four cars. When they wreck at Daytona or Talladega they involve much more than a few. These people are the best at what they do.
But it doesn’t matter, the powers at be have two reasons to change the rules….the reason that they give us and the reason that makes more money for them.
Groo says
Any reason given for limiting the speed of big truck is an even stronger reason to limit cars.
As far as new technology; it is there in all trucks already.
I’ve driven plenty of big trucks with limiters activated. It never made me a bit safer, and honestly with the trucks I have been driving lately, the speed limiter is within 5 mph of the rev-limiter in top gear would be, so why bother?
Lawrence Draper says
I’ve always thought tickets are a good speed limiter. Ontario and Quebec have had speed limiters for years. I wonder what their data shows?!
Jeff says
We whine snd complain and then keep on working. Goverment knows this so they do what they want. Stop driving and take a long weekend all at the same time. 3 days no freight will make them listen.
Matt says
I don’t drive over the limit. But I sure don’t want the government telling me what to do either. Canada had them and it causes all kinds of problems.
My truck is personal property and if the government thinks they can plug into it then they can buy it. I will be done.
Richard walters says
It’s hard enough to slow down behind Stevens and swift.itsee a bunch of crap to slow down for the slower hazards of trucking.just let us do our job!!!!!!
Ether Bawny says
California is a prime example of extreme speed limit differences and anyone who drives there knows if you dont speed and break the law you will pay hell. You will be cut off and encounter a bombardment of rude drivers merging and an inability to get out of the way. Dare you put on your turn signal! Guarantee the public will stomp on the accelerator and cut you off quickly. Safe decisions are out of the question. Aggressive decisions is what your trapped with. If you dont make them you choose which risk is less painful. Killing on the guy on the right txt msgn merging into a lane oblivious to traffic or the one on the left who will hammer it and block if you dont make a fast move. There is no time for decision. You have another ramp and another driver coming with same situation over and over and over and over and well you KNOW as a driver what this is like. The obvious thing you see with the DOT are these ongoing regulation but yet the highways are getting so much WORSE! Now you not only have to watch out for the four wheelers but there is an incredible amount of truck drivers who simple do not drive with any regard to anyone on the road and no regard for lane control turn signals or observing extremely important environments like your mirrors. I spot drivers non stop just weaving all over the road as they pass you. These are a product of the very companies that are pushing for these rules. They dont give a damn about safety. There isnt one iota of truth to the claims made by the DOT about safety. Its payola and politics. THE DOT IS BOUGHT and as CORRUPT as the rest of the government branches have become. You can blow all the statistics you want up as many drivers asses as you want but the facts are hard and obvious to any conscious considerate and safe driver out there. i I guarantee you i will hear the same story time and time again from driver after driver no matter how many i ask or how often i ask. They will verify that the roads are an atrocity to drive on now. The dangers are tenfold. The laws have been promising to improve things and NOT ONE SINGLE LAW has achieved any of those promises. Why go on making it worse? Do you not have a single ounce of humanity left in you? Your wiping out safety for the sake of a few greedy companies that want it ALL.
MrNA says
Hope you all submit your comment to the FMCSA.
peter guggenheim says
Which will do nothing to stop people from driving 40 in a 25. Why not set limit to 30?
George says
Poor truck drivers. More and more rules are coming up. FMCSA should shutdown the entire trucking industry and everything will be ok on the roads:) As soon as population is growing up the cars and trucks will be more on the roads, which means there will be more crashes and accidents on the roads we can not run away from that. The safeties speed limiter and E-Log is in our mind , if there is nothing in your head nothing can prevent accidents.
James Rooksberry says
I hope you get caught behind me when you are in a hurry ha ha
Tony Lama says
James, I don’t think you understood that George’s first few sentences were sarcastic. Read the last line. You hit the nail right on the head, George.
Alan Rayner says
With speed limiters, you’re still going to have the problem of vehicles travelling at slightly different speeds. It will create more problems than it solves.
Gary says
I thought no stacking up the freeways in the morning will get a lot of attention. Great idea
Ron Brennan says
I’m all for it. But only as long as all other passenger cars get the same treatment. I’d like to see this actually go one step further through. Most trucks now have GPS/maps etc. These GPS systems know what local speed limits are, I know mine turns my speed marker to red when I am 5km/hr over the posted speed limit. Tie these speed limiters to GPS allowing up to 5km or the mph equivalent to the posted speed limits. If a vehicle is limited to 60mph and are driving in a 40mph zone they can still speed to make up time lost on highways. Doing this to “all” motor vehicles will result in WAY less accidents. Can also allow a short 30 second acceleration window for passenger vehicles and slightly longer for trucks to be used as a passing feature that will allow slightly higher speeds. An algorithm be applied to reduce the number of these passing windows availability determined by the aggressiveness of the driver behind the wheel.
Dan Boots says
Been driving a mixture of OTR, local, regional and oil patch. All driven with a speed limiter of either 65-70 mph. It sucks but it’s the way of the land up here in the Great White North because of our good friends in Ontario.
All I gotta say is when I was driving in oil patch, I didn’t care how fast i was going because I was getting paid anywhere from $32/hr to $75/hr.
Lesson for truck industry: pay us better.
Rebuttal this announcement by petitioning both CDN and US governments to outlaw paying by the mile and switching us to by the hour. THEN I wont give a shit how fast I’m going as long as I can make a living wage.
As it’s been pointed out many times, follow the money. FMCSA wants elogs and limiters mandatory? Then pay us better or get the fuck out. Elogs make it easier for employer to track hours, and if it’s hourly wage then i don’t care.
Eddie says
Wonder if they calculated in the lost revenue to the states from all the fuel taxed which won’t be paid because this rule saves so much? Also, all that lost speeding ticket revenue?
Gary says
Congress and FSMCA people refused an invitation to come ride with me for 2 weeks and see how life really is, i faxed over 400 of the same letter to them all!!!!
My truck gets better MPG at 72 then 67, it dies at 60. As far as the speed, yes I agree, there are enough hazards out there with Swift, Stevens, Etc to cause a major line of traffic from Little Rock to Knoxville, Tn, it is hard enough to get a hole to pass with the Rude 4 wheelers.
FYI – watch Iowa, the troopers have a scam going, one stopped me for doing 60 in 55, I turned around and redrove that section of I29 by Sioux City, ALL signs said 70, wrote the governor, he said just pay the ticket, Watch out!!!
Me says
This is stupid, slow speed causes more wrecks that’s been proven, back when the national hwy speed limit was 55 and it went back up to normal speeds the states admitted highway crashes decreased. Putting all trucks at slow speeds will make thing 10 time wrote than it is now
Steven says
I don’t approve of this for the following reasons.
First and foremost, “safety.” It is a proven fact that when you have vehicles moving at different speeds. You make one or both a major traffic hazard. Especially when people, now days, are refusing to stay alert to everything around them. Along with people always seem to be in too much of a hurry. Yes, trucks are bigger, heavier and it takes more time and distance to slow down and stop. But, we as drivers can only do so much. When all the other motorists refuses to obey the laws and refuse to give us the room we need.
Secondly, and to those of us who are very concerned about safety. A lesser reason is illegal discrimination and harassment. There’s a infringement on our freedom and the ability to make money. This is another ruling that limits drivers of what they can do and how much money a driver can make. It continues to put trucks at the top of the list for the law enforcement agencies to watch for on the roads. Instead of looking at all the traffic equally for safety. Which is classified as illegal harassment.
If this government really wants to do such. Then they need to make it a manditory ruling requiring all cars, trucks and motorcycles to have the speed limiters.
Remember, ADVERSE/MIXED SPEED LIMITS “KILL”.
Linea Elken says
The FMCSA is telling the non-trucking citizens what they want to hear. They want to believe that crashes between 4 wheelers & big trucks are always the fault of the truck driver, when the reality is just the opposite. As I tell all of my 4 wheeler friends who want to believe that they are safer drivers because they drive slower than everyone else, “Driving slower doesn’t make you safer; it just makes you an obstacle!!” Nearly every company I drove for had speed governors on their vehicles & it really could get dangerous. And when one company has their trucks set at 65 & another company has them set at 67, it takes quite a distance for the faster one to pass the slower one, which blocks 2 lanes. On the West Coast, there have always been slower speeds for the trucks, & it’s always been a problem for the truckers & the 4 wheelers. Another act of human stupidity that makes me think I’ve lived way too long!!!
Big Sam says
Speed limiters are the worst thing to happen I’m from England and all trucks in Europe are set to 90Kph/56mph (even though the speed limit for trucks in England is 60mph) and its hell you get someone trying to pass you for 10mile becuse his limiter is 1mph faster then up comes a hill your empty and he is loaded your up the hill and pass him then back on the flat he is back at it again and so on
In Germany its even worse with no passing on most roads between 06:00-19:00hrs and its spreading across Europe it is just nuts
This will happen in the USA if you let it I have read a few story’s and a lot have predicted what will happen is 100% as its the same in this part of the planet
Big Sam says
As for driving hours at least you haven’t got a thing called a TACOGRAPH (check it out on Google) you insert a card like a credit card into a machine the size of a AM/FM stereo and it electronically records all what you did that day from sensors fitted to the truck and now VOSA (the UK’s DOT) have vans fitted with Bluetooth that down load the new generation TACO’s (not the type you eat LOL) so you get a ticket with out getting stopped and its in the post even befor you are home
Is this next for you guys
Bruce Campbell says
This has nothing to do with safety. We’re just pawns in a bigger game.
Darren says
I hear alot of complaining here! Our industry is being destroyed by people who know nothing of the sacrifice and danger we put ourselves in every time we get behing the wheel. 1 of 6 people killed on the job is a trucker.
We need to organize and stand up to the political BS! We are the life blood of this country! Without us EVERYTHING STOPS!! Stop being a victim and stand up for your rights!
The problem is no one is willing to fight it’s easier to bitch and moan.
Its only going to get worse if we do nothing. Demand respect!!
David Bugg says
“Indeed, the analysis provided in the proposal claims that a 60 mph limit would prevent between 162-498 highway deaths per year…..”
What “analysis”? Conducted by who? Using what methodologies? It has been demonstrated time and again that FMCSA is very quick to adopt “studies” which support their desired rule-making, regardless of how sloppy and incomplete or flawed those studies are. Want new HOS rules that actually screw with the biology of natural sleep in order to satisfy the government’s screwed up notion of what actually causes driver’s fatigue for commercial drivers? Well, they have a gerrymandered study for that. Or how about a study to support the government’s notion that all truck drivers should be sleep-studied for sleep apnea? FMCSA has a study supporting their view which they can pull out their patooty.
Forget the evidence which independent research from other sources show, evidence which not only eviscerates the flimsy crap which FMCSA uses to support their desired rule-making, but often shows how harmful the new rules can actually be if implemented. No, FMCSA chooses to have their rear-ends dragged into court in order to have actual science and rational research-evidence prevail. Government would rather have that happen than to give up on their pre-conceived notions derived from ignorance of what and how commercial truck drivers actually perform their jobs.
FMCSA constantly fails to recognize that it is lazy, sloppy, uncaring and rogue truckers who are the ones responsible for not operating safely and who are causing the vast majority of problems. You deal with this kind of problem with proper training, adequate pre-qualification screening of those wanting to be a driver, and criminal prosecution for those found culpable of willful neglect and negligence. You don’t solve the problem by mandating micro-managing rules which try to get rid of the deviants, but never does. But at the cost of creating huge problems for both the productivity and actual safety of the vast majority of drivers who conscientiously do their job, and do it incredibly well.
Sort of reminds me of the way government thinks that the way to solve gun crimes is to increase bans and regulations which make it difficult for the normal and responsible gun owner to have a gun, yet doesn’t inconvenience the criminal one iota.
Speed limiters? Do a study on speed-limiting four-wheelers to conform to the speed of tractor-trailers and see the results. Oh, wait, that has already been done multiple times, sort of. As the article also pointed out, legitimate study methods in research, repeated time and again, have shown that the safest highways and byways are those with a single speed limit for all vehicles, with rigorously enforced usage of slowest moving vehicles against hogging the left lane/passing lane.
Keep it up OOIDA. Piss on ya FMCSA.
Overworkedandunderpaid says
At what point does this industry unite and say, “Enough is enough”? I know, that’s like asking an elephant to fly. We’ve GOT to figure out a way to support organizations who support us, not the insurance companies, FMCSA, ATA, etc. OOIDA is a great example of someone who knows how to battle stupidity in this corrupt and unjust system on their own level. Support them, and also let your voice be heard (constantly) with YOUR elected officials. Doing nothing assures us of things only getting worse!
Kevin says
FMCSA..just another government power grab. I read the report, it’s bogus! It does not take into the account it has on “surrounding” traffic! People get pissed enough being behind a truck let alone a slow one. Here come more HEAD-ON crashes…Canada did it, head-on increased!
Rebel says
Stupid, on stupid. More b s out of Washington. They travel in limo’s, fly around in jets, and they want trucks to go 60 mph. Congested highways, dangerous driving conditions, due to boring the crap out of drivers. Yearly accidents involving big trucks, show proof that the truck is 85 percent not at fault, and is caused by 4 wheelers, yet let us punish the tuckers. Better idea, limit their speed, and enforce the law of not running in the passing lane, without getting back into traffic.
But really the , most dangerous thing to hwy drivers, is the Federal Government, and the continuing intrusion into American citizens cars, education, bedroom, religion, speech, health care, wombs, jobs, property, and just about every aspect of our life.
JJ 501 says
Aren’t those mega fleets members of ATA?
I think they are pushing this mandate.They want the small carriers out of the game.
Gerard says
Time for company drivers to get paid by the hour. No point in driving hard to meet unrealistic demands with another roadblock put in front of us. Let’s get overtime like everyone else and see how quickly they come up with a solution.
Daryl says
Sadly, the guys I know that get paid by the hour don’t get overtime, but they probably dont work 70 hours either. Home every day, $17 an hour average in my area.
Brian Reid says
Well they have been here in Ontario, Canada for years now. Being a 35 year veteran truck driver, they suck. It’s like restrictor plate nascar racing. Very dangerous as trucks get all bunched together due to hills and then cant pass. No one backs off and crashes happen. Most stupid thing that has happen to trucking other then giving the east Indians, trucking licenses. Oh yea most good drivers are gone and bad, inexperienced, new immigrants filled the void to cause fear and chaos on the highways. It’s the worst I’ve seen on the roads since starting in 1980, and I expect it will get worst as it has over the last 10 years
Jeremy says
I was under the impression that when many states increased the posted speed limits, maybe 10 yrs ago,traffic accidents and road fatalities decreased.
That being said, The Province of Ontario introduced speed limiters nearly 10 yrs ago and govs of many States refered to it as a farce. Practically all States went as far as dismissing it as legitimate and would not collect fines from US drivers who were found by Ontario law enforcement operating in The Province of Ontario without the legislated speed limiter in place on their vehicles on Ontario’s behalf.
Mark says
80% of TV commercials are pill pushing drug companies and class action lawyers. Have a law that 1/2 that time be dedicated to public service msgs to educate the public about trucking for a year and see how many lives are saved.
Patrick Henry says
So glad I hung it up and got into another line of work. I hope I never have to get back behind the wheel again.
Fozzy says
The false angst of the drivers when the vast majority of trucks are already governed would be funny if not so pathetic. The drivers demanded more pennies per mile instead of keeping the pay for work… and now they see the trap they set for themselves and don’t like it….
Daryl says
There are more owner ops than all company drivers COMBINED. So NO, most trucks are not governed. But hey, what is the csa for if crappy drivers ruins it for everyone?
Adam says
There have been studies done in the past, which showed that split speed limits are more dangerous than one speed limit for all. It’s not the speed, but the difference in speed that creates problems. Such were the conclusions. I remember reading the reports. I think the studies were done in the nineties. Since then some States abandoned the split speed limits. Now, the speed limiter is a result of years of lobbying on behalf of the big trucking corporations, which are keen to dispose of their biggest competitor, which is the independent truck driver and small, mom and pap companies. This happened here in the Province of Ontario, Canada. The Ontario Trucking Association, which is an association of the largest players in our trucking industry, lobbied our government successfully to do this exact thing.
Paul says
I think they will govern all trucks 60 MPH. In Europe all class 8 trucks are 55 mph governed, but in USA conventional trucks got less drag and thats why they want to give extra 5 mph.
I used to remove speed governor on EU trucks and we got less fuel milage, more brake wear. But truck runs faster and makes money faster.
So be prepared to drive like in Europe… slooowly
Doug Story says
Does this also mean the idiots in their four wheelers will have speed limiters as well? I mean, in the interest of all vehicles travelling at the same relative speed, right?
Sara says
Where are they getting these facts. The truckers i see drive way better than the 4 wheelers.
shogun says
This could aslo be a backhanded attempt to get rid of mechanical motors since the dot wouldn’t be able to plug a computer in to check the speeds like the article said.
TheBigCajun says
That’s exactly right. They’ll start off with saying….”only newly manufactured trucks”…but when Kenworth, Freightliner, Pete, W.S. and Volvo start complaining about the loss of sales (as used trucks will swiftly become the main market), they’ll find a way to make all used/older model trucks illegal.
It’s basically the same thing as them demanding access to your home/property at any time, without a warrant. The government doesn’t like checks and balances.
All this time we spend worrying about extremists and terrorist coming here from overseas. Look at what our government is doing today – and we’re letting it happen 🙂
Mike says
Remember Ohio state 55mph for trucks where did it get them,any one know.
Earl says
Look at all the crybabies slower speeds you get better fuel economy and less headaches get over yourselves already
TheBigCajun says
You obviously don’t drive trucks, or you know VERY little about them. Slower speeds, surprisingly enough, often do NOT get better fuel economy, and in fact, introduce MUCH more headache on the highway (like taking 15 miles to pass a truck that is going 1mph slower than you).
Is there any other corporate, brainwashed nonsense you’d like to submit for our reading pleasure?
Jackal says
I wish all us here would take out the time to write our congressperson…..
Rodd Boudreau says
Let aside the traffic problems and look at the fact that slowing down the trucks will make even more drivers make less money which means more will get out of the business because of the loss in pay so it will mean less product getting moved and more cost to what does move, key ingredients to a major recession possibly a depression. Professional drivers are the ones that are paying for all the changes they make .
Kraft K says
All trucks have speed limeters . It’s called a driver.
Mark Layman says
I think ALL trucker should take a little more time around Washington DC and Balitmore MD and other major citys and drive side by side in all lanes and end to end at the posted speed limit. Them when the lawmakers can’t zoom by us and the cops and emts can’t get to where they need to go, they only have them selves to thank. Could you see 50 truck side by side and end to end going around any major city ? That would be so cool. Lets do it.
Germaine Thomas says
I hope everyone joins us O/O as we will start rolling with hazard lights at 40 mph come September 12 and beyond. If we want our rights respected we need to stand up for ourselves. If you need any motivation to do so, do this to fight for your right to earn an honest living and feed your families.
Enough is enough. Truckin’ Bozo organized a boycott of the state of Indiana in 1988 in which every trucker was traveling through the state at 50mph and didn’t buy anything, be it food, fuel, etc. from the state. Six months later, the governor begged Bozo to call the boycott off since the state was going broke.
We can do this! We can not let CEOs with DOT and FMCSA in their pocket keep profiting from innocent American lives. Those companies under the ATA have taken more American lives in any given year since 1987 then ISIS and Al-Qada have in their entire existence…combined! And yet, they are getting government subsidies (in other words, your tax paying cash) to KEEP doing so.
The American people can not keep paying this groups to profit from more innocent truckers and motorists. Enough is enough!
John Riise says
Drove for FFE for 18 months, trucks governed at 62. Actually had VW bus pass me once. But once you get used to it, no big deal. Was actually thrilled to meet up with a Prime truck, which must have been limited to 60, because they were the only ones i could pass – woohoo, were flyin now!
Worst part was when I’d get home time and go somewhere with the Mrs and she’d always ask why I was going so slow. LOL. So I’d get the ol’ Toyota up to 70 and it seemed so FAST.
Preston Petty says
Imho: The biggest safety improvement would to make ALL interstate highways at least 4 lanes wide in each direction. That way a slower truck can be passed without blocking all the traffic behind it. Similarly the left two lanes would work similarly for autos.
There are so many needless collisions by not having built-in passing lanes.
mick mountain says
We have them in Australia and we are limited to 100 kph,most car drivers go from 80 to 105 on the overtaking lanes to keep us behind,talk about bloody frustrating.I will say once again that speed is not the biggest killer,it’s inexperience and incompetence,safe and happy travels always my USA
Brothers.
Roady304 says
I’m with OOIDA as far has making it not a law. Now instead of having a public hearing where more car drivers will show up vs Professional Drivers, we should band owner/ ops to hit the beltway in the wonderful city of DC and all drive at 35 for a couple of days and show them what safe really is! There has not been a major city that I’ve been thru where 4 wheelers doing 80+ weaving in/out of traffic yakking on there cell or worst texting have created a problem. Speed limiters are in affect now with some companies and its aggrivating watching a road hazard doing 62 mph road hazard a truck doing 61!
Al says
“Highways are safest when all vehicles travel at the same relative speed. This wisdom has always been true and has not ever changed,” said OOIDA executive vice president, Todd Spencer, who has strongly opposed mandatory speed limiters. “No technology can replace the safest thing to put in a truck, which is a well-trained driver.”
False premise. Training doesn’t work on Americans due to the “I really know what I’m doing now, and have papers to prove it, so I can throw all my training out the window” factor.
Of the hundreds of truck drivers I well-trained, exactly 1 (ONE) seemed to get it.
Look out there. Trucks speeding and following too closely if the laws of physics and circumstances allow is virtually universal.
Anthony says
It’s a well known fact that whenever the government gets involved in private industry all they ever do is make everything worse…Imagine in West Texas where the speed limit is 85MPH…4 wheelers expecting big rigs to be rolling along at least 80MPH will be stuck at 60, 65, or 68 MPH…How many of these 4 wheelers are going to run into the back of the rigs?? And who’s going to bear the responsibility??? The big rig driver of course!!
Lee Carter says
If ever there was a time in this country for a real truck strike, it is now. All the organizations that claim to represent us as drivers,owners and lease operators have turned their backs on us. On January 1st 2017 everyone in this country that holds a CDL needs to just stop. All of this government over reach needs to cease. If we don’t do this, and do this soon, the BS rules will just keep on coming. They can’t fire you, when you are all they have. They will threaten too fire, incarcerate and maybe even sick the National Guard on us, but this needs to happen. Think about it and spread the word.
Vic says
This is stupid nonsense. Dont limit the speed of the truck. Limit number of stupid drivers behind the wheel. Ive been driving truks for over 10 years now and noticed tendency of limited trucks fly as fast as they can thru constuction zones. When there are concrete barriers on both sides, no sholder at all, and road bends left and right they still doing 60 on 45 limit. Because they have to drive 60 when speed limit is 70 or 80 in the middle of a desert and road is sraight and empty. Than they try to catch up on constructions or in towns with smaller speed limit. Example from real life situation. Texas state road in between towns speed limit is 70 in towns goes to 50 or 40. And the truck that was going 60 the one i just passed before town is now hauling thru town still doing 60. That happens all the time any driver would tell you. Usually its trucks from huge companies that limit their trucks. If driver is on a tight schedule and he goes thru half desert states why not go faster. 15 mile speed difference can save him arround 165 miles a day, thats 2 to 3 hours drive. And he can peacefully and slowly pass thru road works and towns, knowing that he can catch up in desert. Going from NY to California and loosing everyday 160 miles means losing day. And some loads customer literally dont need tomorrow, he needs it today or never. Like convention centers. Get crazy stupid drivers that keep making accident after accident away from trucks. Get them out before they kill some one. Don’t make everyone strugle becouse of them.
Leonard Papagno says
I work for Fresh Point a subsidiary of Sysco. I’ve been here 20 years and in the beginning we had trucks that could do 80/85 mph. The speed limit was still 55 mph so you never really got to test it. But, then they raised the speed limit to 65 then 70 mph and we start getting govern trucks. It sucks sometime only being able to go 65 mph because you always gets stuck behind someone doing 64 mph and you can’t pass them without having twenty cars and semis on your ass. On top of that we have drive cam and have to keep 4 to 6 seconds between vehicles. It’s all about CYA.
Steve Volkle says
The gov. is full of S#@* this will drive dispatchers nuts and if you think there’s a driver shortage now wait until this goes into effect. How about we get our guy’s out of Afganistan, Iraq and the rest of the HELL HOLES that POS. in the white sends them HOW MANY LIVES WILL THAT SAVE????
Mike says
1st off all the Government has already imposed on us the 14 hour clock, and now the ELOGS that can’t be stopped which is causing many to drive through construction site faster. Now you want speed limiter this will cause even more accident as a driver is only trying to provide for their family so maybe it’s time you look at what you have in place and make things better. As speed limiters are not the answer!!!!!!!!!
JJ says
This industry has really gone downhill fast…you might as well go drive hourly or quit the industry all together….their just in your face every minute….the only thing that will get their attention is when deliveries get halted…then let’s see who cries the loudest
Dawn says
Limiting the speed of a truck puts more at danger than what is already out on the road. There are many drivers that do not blong on the highways. I, personally, have experienced many various vehicles not paying attention to where they are going. Hoping 2 to 3 lanes at the last minute in front of various traffic to hop off an exit. To cutting off tractor trailers and slamming on there brakes within a few feet of the front bumper because there not going fast enough for them. To whiping around a truck or car cause they didnt move over fast enough. Or nearly taking out the vehicle next to them because a cell phone in there hand is more important. Even though lowering speeds may sound like a good idea, it is not the solution to the problem. Young drivers need to be educated about paying attention while driving and leaving enough space when mergeing over. Not all accidents are caused by tractor trailers. I dont feel that statistical data is showing the amount of accidents caused by vehicles smaller than us truck drivers. The majority of us are very responsible drivers. The irresponsible drivers need to be better educated if they want to have the privilage of driving. Driving is a privilage which needs to be taken more responsibly. Too many people are in a hurry which puts everyone in danger out on the roads.
Allen Farlow says
Speed limiters only work when ALL vehicles are required to have them. Forcing only a part of traffic to go slower will increase the number of faster vehicles slamming into the slower traffic. I have never been a fan of split speed limits for that reason. This is possibly just one more attempt by the Obama administration to screw things up in the U.S. before he is finally forced out of power. Slower speed limits on trucks will mean a need for more trucks and drivers as freight delivery will be slowed as well. Even sellers on eBay and Amazon will need to adjust their delivery promises. Like that overnight delivery? Lots of luck with that. This is a bad deal all the way around.
AverageTrucker says
All this is smoke and mirrors. If they really cared about fuel, polution, hours of service, traffic, safety, etc they wouldn’t have trucks stuck in local traffic when we could be driving in HOV, Epass and restricted lanes straight through and then all the cars could get on and off highways easier without having to maneuver around semi’s stopping and starting in rush hour traffic.
Sid says
if they really serious about saftey then why not put it on every car on the road? How many lives will that save? Truck drivers have not had a raise is 40 years and now this. electronic logs have already ensured we can not make a living. There’s a price for safety and only the professional drivers are paying it, no one else will!
Brett says
Well I am sure there will be name calling at what I am about to say and that is alright. Trucking has no one to blame but trucking. Everytime the government comes up with a new idea we allow it to take hold without much more than posting social media or even before social media sitting at the counter whining about it. So, you want to see who is responsible for all these assinine rules and regulations? Look in a mirror.
TheBigCajun says
Any person who reads my response, agrees with it, and wishes to use the points I make, or copy and paste it, please feel free to do so.
The rather ridiculous and elementary case the ATA is making here, can be easily reduced TO, and revealed FOR its true motive. Smaller trucking companies and owner operators are about to receive a crippling blow. We are the ATA’s and the railroad’s competition, and they want us dragged down to their level. Why? Because they know that we can’t operate at the same marginal profits, as does a company with 20,000 trucks on the road, or a locomotive that can pull 100 cars. Please read on and share:
1) The statement “speed kills” is unquestionably true. However, while true, there are far many OTHER factors that weigh-in on vehicle crashes (and in larger contribution). Unfortunately, this proposed rule-making narrows those factors down to just “speed”. If “speed” is the only factor we’re going to consider, then let’s use the same tactics the FMCSA says is enough to pass the rule, by just picking a few numbers. The speed difference between 75mph and 68mph, is roughly 10%. That means, if a commercial vehicle is in a crash involving a fatality at 75mph, there’s a 90% chance that same crash is going to involve a fatality at 68mph. So, if we’re going to ignore all larger contributing factors to crash fatalities (which is what the ATA and the FMCSA seem to be doing with this ruling), then let it be seen for the ignorance it is.
2) It would make our highways FAR safer, to have reduced traffic on the interstate, and better trained drivers. If the FMCSA is so concerned with safety, then why are they taking advice from trucking corporations who recruit people from the street (who’ve never even been in a semi before), give them 3-4 days of classroom lecture with paperwork, put them on a pad for a day or so (to teach them how to pass a backing/maneuvering examine), give them about 30 minutes of drive time, and then throw CDLs at them, by the tens of thousands? No, seriously; how is this a pro-safety mindset, that is in ANY way worthy of dictating how others should drive?
3) The ATA’s argument that “slowing trucks down, would make the highway safer”, is at best, a double-standard. Many companies the ATA (who are pushing for these limiters), have in some cases, gradually increased their OWN speed governors over the years (from 60, to 62, to 64, to 66, and so forth), to try and improve their hilarious turnover rates. How then, can it be lawful for them to increase the speeds on their trucks when it suits them, reach their maximum efficiency/profitability, and then use the Federal Government to break the backs of the competition? Not only have the ATA’s lobbyists and representatives absolutely infiltrated and corrupted the FMCSA and the NHTSA in this matter, the FMCSA and NHTSA are taking operation “evidence” and “safety advice” from corporate executives and accountants, who either know not nothing OF, or simply don’t care the first iota ABOUT “safety”.
4) The ATA’s argument that “slowing trucks down to 60-68 mph, would make the highway safer”, is at second best, a subjective, unsubstantiated, and shallow opinion of those who are not on the highway, in a rig, for weeks at a time. The ONLY way that further slowing 80,000lbs vehicles down becomes “safe”, is if every other moving vehicle on the highway is slowed to the same speed. There can be nothing MORE unsafe, than some two-million tractor-trailers on our highways at any given time, traveling at speeds of around 65mph, with about 250-million smaller/personal vehicles swarming around them like hornets at 75mph and 80mph speeds (even higher if they’re desperate to pass). Meanwhile, the FMSCA wants to create more of this? It will not only create more stress on the highway and make it LESS safe on overcrowded roads, it will further, undeniably, recklessly, and needlessly endanger every last life out there, all in the name of big trucking company profits.
5) The argument that slower speeds would “save fuel” is in MOST cases, also a lie. Big trucking companies who buy tractors by the bulk, want lower horsepower engines because it saves them millions. But then, they want those engines to last under the nonsensical beating rookie drivers put on the trucks. An engine with 10-20% more horsepower, with a small investment in a properly geared transmission, would produce lesser emissions at higher speeds, give better fuel economy (due to even lower RPMs and less required acceleration), and would last longer. But, the companies in the ATA can’t be bothered to fork out a few extra dollars on a truck, or spend a few extra days teaching their new drivers how/when to shift. So, they want the FMCSA to punish small companies and owner operators who DO operate more efficiently. See, smaller companies HAVE to operate more efficiently – they don’t own 20,000 trucks, or receive huge government subsidies to fund utter ignorance.
6) And of course, all the truck manufacturers will be on board with slower engines, because then they can build cheaper engines for the same profit. Inevtiably though, they’re going to realize that said profits will be devoured by the loss of sales they will suffer. Smaller companies and owner operators will buy and large, stop buying off commercial trucks lots, the day ECM/speed limiters become mandatory on new trucks.
7) Now we get to the meat and potatoes of the ordeal. This is ALL about competition and profitability. The big companies of the ATA, know that their greatest competitor, is the small company, with a handful of experienced drivers, well maintained trucks that can run safely and legally, offer higher paid-wages to its drivers, and maintain a simplicity of operation. Most of us don’t have to deal with as many dispatchers, eventually become our own brokers, sign contracts with dedicated freight year after year, get loads delivered on time. We do it in ways that make Swift, Werner, Central, and J.B. Hunt wet themselves. This environment makes said companies VERY attractive to not only shippers/manufacturers, but also to drivers who walk away from those mammoth trucking companies, and never look back. So, to the ATA: Welcome to the United States of America. If you can’t handle the pros and cons of capitalism, get out of the industry, and stop using government agencies to be your patsies.
8) Finally, to the FMSCA, and NHTSA: perhaps you’ve not considered the economic, abusive, economic detriment this ruling will introduce to smaller trucking companies (and the floodgate of lawsuits you will be facing as a result). Most trucks get paid by the mile. Miles take time. Time increases hours of service. More hours of service, increase living expenses on the road. Slowing a truck from 75mph to 65mph, would decrease potential mileage of a 6-day week, by about 600 miles. At an average of .38 per mile, that’s about $228 per WEEK (roughly $12,000 per year) out of the pocket of a company driver. For an owner operator, this could be upwards of $63,000 per year. Is the Federal Government going to compensate us for these massive wage loses?
In closing – I am 100% an advocate of safety, and by and large, I feel the Federal Government does more good than bad. This is however, one instance that is NOT good. I am trying to work, live an honest, financially responsible life, and set some money aside, so that one day I can retire. This ruling will hurt small business, and boost corporate interests (who are the reason trucks have become so unsafe in the first place). The biggest representatives of the train lobby and the ATA, have driven down wages, destroyed small business, and now they want the government to help bury the rest of us.
gene ezell says
Well thought out and well said.
Pepe says
The tractors I drive are governed at 63 mph, drove tractors governed at 67 mph for another company and fuel savings were the same (1 gl savings at best) and I think at the end of the day the government is not really paying attention at the main problem which is: more training to new drivers coming to our trade, has been bad accidents where I live abut 90% of them a driver driving “CONTAINERS ” are involved and time and time again most of them just got their CDL , hardly speak and understand English (majority are from Servia and eastern Europe )don’t understand rules of the road limited or no experience driving big rigs and they either are O/O or work for small mom and pop service .
Bottom line is the government and insurance companies should mandate at least 500 hrs behind wheel training and after then.. you will see a big difference
mert says
yess,this is nice! ! cant wait for this, will b so much better ..everybody gonna be safe, save fuel, make more money! !! when you not paying the 1000+ insurance a month u gonna save big! ! is every1 is safe and slow we not gonna need insurance right? ???
Infosaur says
45 and four lanes wide!
Let’s just shut the highways down.
Four wheeler’s don’t need to go 70+ either, they should have just left earlier.
Chuck Winborn says
If the government is going to limit the speed of heavy trucks then they will have to do the same for cars and lite trucks. This is total discrimination and law suits will follow. Join OOIDA today to protect your trucking rights
Vinnie says
If this is truly about safety and it truly saves lives why not put speed limiter on all vehicles including cars and pickups let’s see if that will happen ,!!! Remembered supposed to be all about safety
Jeff says
Speed limiters may very well be coming. I’ll definitely be going, right out of the trucking industry. There’s no way I’m going to watch in my mirrors some truck that’s a fraction of 1mph faster than me because their running a taller tire, tailgating me for several more miles, only to eventually step out and pass in a manner that’ll block up traffic creating an even more unsafe environment for everyone in the vicinity.
How in the hell these people are allowed to propose anything should be the real concern.
Ray Noyb says
If the objective is to save lives they need to 1st look at who and what causes the most accidents. Hint> It is not the truck drivers.
Ray Noyb says
Most company trucks are already limited. IE>JB Hunt and CRETE are limited to 62 mph and CRST 65 mph. CRST has one of the worse accident rates in the biz but that is not because of the 65 mph limit. It is because CRST packs rookies into their trucks with just 5 hrs of actual behind the wheel training.
Chris Webb says
After driving a truck for 22 yrs I have drove truck that where govern and truck where cut loose to me speed limiter because it will back up traffic more when one truck to pass another one it will cause more wrecks and road rage from cars trying to pass .it would be one of worst laws ever .