FMCSA--Speed limiters are coming

You call self driving trucks a rinky-dink regulation that’s gonna take your job and put your ### at home out of a job? You ready to retrain for something else? Just because they can invent self driving trucks doesn’t mean they have to take everyone’s job. That’s what I’m talking about.

If we ask truckers as a whole said “well we’re just gonna quit now since 10 years from now you’re trying to take all our jobs with technology, unless you were willing to delay that technology implementation for at least 20 to 25 years” then that’s exactly what would happen.

 

While I don't disagree with most of your post, this is what gets me. Driving is not a one size fits all deal. While an OTR driver may not need a wide open truck, because of a larger window for delivery to work with, look at a local schmuck like me. I don't chase miles, I'm paid percentage. I really have no reason to hurry, and I generally don't. I really wanna just do my runs, and go home to enjoy what I've worked all my life for. It's not about speeding, driving like a cowboy or some other deep seated fantasy. I simply wanna be home instead of working.

I travel I-81 and 78 through central PA. A lot. Every day in fact. Nothing irritates me more than being stuck behind a 60 mph drag race. Neither will admit defeat, so there you sit, watching two idiots duel it out for miles.

Speed limiters will make it worse.

 

Things change man. And if self driving trucks change the industry, yes...I'll just retrain and relearn how to do something else. You evolve. Those who don't evolve, they perish. The rinky dink reg I was speaking of was the speed limiter. Since you're talking about autonomous trucks, why do you think it's around the corner? What you scared of? To push a driver all the way out of the industry, they'd have to change the entire infrastructure of the country to go fully autonomous. If that was around the corner, Love's would not be building locations like it's going out if style. I still think we are a long way from that, and many of you have unnecessary fear for bridge we aint even got no where near to cross. Even if they went autonomous, why wouldn't an owner do it if its cheaper than hiring drivers and providing benefits? I ain't necessarily saying I agree with it, but we can't hold the future back. Things will change organically. I don't know if it will be in our lifetime, but fossil fuel will eventually be a memory. It's just what it is man.

 

Well that's not even a speed limiter issue to me. When drivers do that nonsense, that's just a show of poor road etiquette and training. I've harped about training before and some drivers need to get retrained. Maybe that's where some government money should go. Retraining bad drivers. I don't really know how that would get pulled off, but governors or not, a lot of that is moreso related to bad etiquette. I'm in a governed truck, and I won't even get in the hammer lane unless there is now way I can impede someone. Me personally I have no issue "admitting defeat." You're right, it ain't 1 size fits all, and some drivers have to realize where they are in the industry. If you have a governed truck, then you have to learn to get more comfortable running in the granny lane.

 

That would be the smart thing. But when has the government ever done anything smart when it comes to trucking?

 

I own my truck and currently run 63mph to save money on fuel, I choose to do that. I don’t need some government bureaucrat who wouldn’t know how to start a truck, tell me what my truck should be governed at.

I have three million safe miles with no chargeable accident or moving violations, and part of the reason for those 3 million plus safe miles is having the ability to accelerate out of bad situations when needed.

If every truck is governed at let’s say 65mph, you will see what a unmitigated disaster that will be, incidences of road rage will skyrocket, this job can be stressful enough. In all my years of driving I have felt more stressed when driving a truck governed at 65mph, that can’t get around another truck, and has no ability to accelerate out of certain situations.

 

Mandate ELDs lol I don't know. I can't remember all the regs so I am the wrong guy to ask. The ones I can remember, they don't bother me like it dies other drivers. I see both sides of the coin though.

 

Well I don't feel stressed about running 65. That's a good semi speed. That's my opinion though. I also don't feel stressed about an inability to get around trucks or other motorists. I'm a very patient man, maybe too patient at times. That don't bother me. I'll let other drivers get ahead of me and increase my following distance. It ain't that serious to me. I'll watch everyone bunch up, and the show of brake lights. It's entertaining to see people fight each other to get one car ahead. Lol

 

Don't forget a 15 minute mandatory poop break in the morning.....

 

What’s rinky dink and minor to one can be a deal to another. Where 1 man may be a career company man (and not 1 thing wrong with that) the other may be a career O/O. Some of those guys know they would have an easier life not owning a truck but it’s the only life they know. It’s not a job or a lifestyle even but more of a calling. You can’t ask those guys who have done things their way their entire adult life to up and change without discomfort. I wholeheartedly see to some this isn’t a big deal and I respect that. There will only be further encroachment till everyone is affected in some aspect. At that time it will be too late. Honestly it already is.