Should DOT mandate 68mph speed limiters?

Too many people on here that have know idea what they are talking about, spewing facts from the latest ATA press release. I am really getting tired of this.

Moderators, your forums are being taken over by advocacy groups. People spouting what they have heared, over what they know, if anything about the subject matter.

If they want to drop speed limits, fine, pay me 5 dollars a mile for hauling it, and I will do 55mph. Oh, and remember, 4 wheelers cause 75% of accidents involving big trucks, so govern them to 55 mph as well. As for tires blown, quit buying garbage retreads/recaps and you won't have the problem. Actually get off your butt's and check your air pressure, and your tires might last.

As for europe and it's speed limits, you want them, move there. There is a reason our GDP is growing, our economy is growing, and we are the most prosperouse nation in the world. There is also a reason that Europe's GDP is falling every year, and will be bankrupt in the next 50 yrs. We work our butts off in every sector of the economy, and they just don't. Simple as that.

You want to be part of the socialist/ liberal movement, you want it just like Europe? Go there, don't bring it here.

 

Dont disagree with pretty much everything that you have said, but it is going to get worse for trucking over the next several years!! That's why I wont go casual after I reach min retirement age----just keeps getting worse! There is a natural enmity between small, no-inertia zipping 4-wheelers (with little to no accountability) and long, heavy, hi-inertia Big trucks (with 'call this no.' on trlr)---it's like cats & dogs!!!

 

I believe in limiting the trucks to 68 if not 65mph. I have driven, briefly, a truck with a full load in a parking lot and its not easy to stop. Now I can't image a truck weighing 40 tons trying to go from 65 or 68 mph to zero in a short distance. I drove my friends KW bobtail at 65mph on 35W and thought that was fast enough. I can't see these psychos running trucks as fast as 90-100mph on the interstate. Its just begging to kill someone.

 

You drove a truck in a lot, and so imho have no right or baseline for what a truck can do on the road. It is true that it takes a while to stop the trucks, but a 68mph is too slow in many states where the limit is 75, and cars are running 80-85.

There is no reason that in, NV, NM, AZ, TX, NE, WY, UT, CO, etc etc etc you could not safely drive the truck 70-75mph.

Fact is MOST ACCIDENTS are due to driver inattention or fatigue. This limit will do NOTHING to reduce accidents.


K

 

As I can say I should probably keep my mouth shut (but my mouth says no!)
I have no idea really how to "drive" a truck. I know everything you guys/gals go through every day though!
I can say in the pro's of changing the speed limit is:

Drivers can't be getting crazy like I have seen and you have seen (I am sure)
Your log book should never reflect getting from point A to point B over the amount of time versus speed limit versus minimum time to get there. (I hope that made sense). I am thinking DOT will agree because if all truck's are goverened they know: hey you can't get there from this point to this point in 3 hours; because the speed limit is 70 and you show driving there on the average of 70 hours, when they know you can't do it because your truck is goverened at 68.

Con's: This is what I don't really know, but have a few ideas how it could affect just because if I was governed it would affect me, and I am double sure it would affect you!

Many situations I have found myself I need to speed to avoid a situation. It might be an accident, a crazy driver behind me or some of the sort! If I have to go over 80 mph then I guess my life is in gods hands!

My truck (4 wheeler) sometimes has a hard time going up the hill and I need all the speed I can get, I COULD NOT IMAGINE having 40,000 lbs behind me!

I am for it and I am against it: Like someone said we might not have a choice, but as I say! It is up to you drivers to come up with a good plan: Plan out what is reasonable on logs, speed and pay and stick together and make your statements and don't give up until you are over ruled! You drivers do have a say! I find many drivers complain to lets say "log auditors" and we have no "CONTROL" over the law. Make your statements and stick to them. Many drivers come up with off the wall stuff, meaning hey I should be able to drive when I feel like it etc. Come UP with some thing "REASONABLE" that makes you all happy and write to all the groups FMCSA, the parent group (no dont' recall the exact name). Remember they will hear you out, you may not get what you want, but at least you all worked together with a good idea nd tried to fight for your rights! Complaining on these boards will help you figure out what you really need/want,but you all have to be a team and work together and be reasonable! DO ITTTTTTTTTTTT WOULD YOU????????????
It would make my job easier if half of you was happy with the law and regulations! There has to be a simple fix to it all!:smt047

 

I think they should just build separate interstates for trucks and 4 wheelers. They could do this by making a toll road specifically for trucks and make the speed limit 70mph. And if the truck driver didnt want to pay the toll then the other interstate would be strictly enforced at 55 mph for an 18 wheeler. It works pretty well in Ohio although its not exactly similar.

 

I'm sorry but i'm just getting sick and tired of all these people coming on the truckers forum that have never driven a truck trying to tall us what is good for us :quote: I believe in limiting the trucks to 68 if not 65mph. I have driven, briefly, a truck with a full load in a parking lot and its not easy to stop. Now I can't image a truck weighing 40 tons trying to go from 65 or 68 mph to zero in a short distance. I drove my friends KW bobtail at 65mph on 35W and thought that was fast enough. I can't see these psychos running trucks as fast as 90-100mph on the interstate. Its just begging to kill someone.:end quote: this is pure B.S. this guy has never been in a truck in his life but becouse he bobtailing once on the interstate he is trying to get his adgenda across.these people are hijacking this forum.

 

Now you are talking! I like that because like yesterday a truck driver scared me to death driving about 60 mph on snowy & icy roads! I also get terrified (I used to work in Accident claims) going on curves with a truck driver beside me. I know isn't drivers fault sometimes, but still I know what could happen!
So yeah that would be cool! Then truck drivers would mostly be on the road with truck drivers and you all can get on the bad one's! l.o.l.
I LIKE IT! I doubt that is really feasible though, imagine making roads for just truck drivers and roads for the rest? It would be a great idea though! :smt038

 

And by the way, I dont know about you guys but when I was driving a 4 wheeler before a big truck I used to have a lot of confrontations with 18 wheeler drivers because the pieces of [crap] would be riding my tail. I dont like 4 wheelers to ride my tail let alone an 18 wheeler. I think its a power trip for some of these bums out here to get right on a 4 wheelers butt and try to move them out of the way. Tailgating is the biggest cause of accidents.