When did Governed Trucks begin?

I remember in 1993 passing "pumpkin trucks" governed at 55mph. From what I understand, at that time, they had been governed that way for years.

 

When insurance companies started mandating the way companies run their business. I don't really know but it sounds reasonable.

 

No doubt bretstep, no doubt... for me it was a bargain!!!

 

My first OTR job was in 1981 when I drove for that company out of Utah (CRE). My first truck with them was a 1979 COE Mack. The truck ran 85+ mph. I drove that no power steering, metal flying off, POS rattle trap for 8 months. My first new truck with them was a 1982 Freightliner that ran a whopping 64mph. So if I recall they statrted cutting their trucks back about the same time the Mormon church bailed them out the first time.

 

Hey stranger, you mention Big R here in your quote but do you remember the days when Big R was called that because we had some of the fastest trucks on the road and that's how they got the nickname?

 

Sure do. Big R had some long hooded Macks that would get down the road.

 

I was a NC driver and thats what we done....everybody met in Benson NC (Robinhood Truck Stop) that is no longer there.....but haul our soup up the road....came home the same way......met at the truck stop at beginning of the NJ TPK....cant remember the name but it is close now... but anyways came home!

 

I remember reading an old trade magazine from the 70's where a fleet spec'd 13 speed O/D transmissions but physically locked out 13th gear in order to govern the truck at 55mph.

Greyhound does the same thing on its buses, locks out the top gear to limit the speed in lieu of an ECM governor.