ATA raises concerns with US speed limiter proposal
ARLINGTON, Va. – The American Trucking Associations (ATA), a proponent of legislation requiring heavy trucks to be speed-limited, has told the US Department of Transportation it will not endorse the proposed rule as written.
ATA president and CEO Chris Spear said in a statement that while ATA has promoted a policy on truck speed limits for a decade, the industry has concerns about the current proposal.
“Despite ATA’s decade-old, pro-safety policy on speed, the new joint rulemaking from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Federal Motor Carrier Administration proposes a menu of three speed options for commercial trucks, not one,” Spear said.
“It provides insufficient data, and fails to make a recommendation regarding which of the three proposed speeds it believes is best and why. Most disconcerting is the fact that DOT’s new rulemaking does not address the differentials in speed that would exist between any of the three proposed national speed limits for trucks and the speed laws of multiple states – allowing passenger vehicles to travel at much higher speeds than commercial trucks. This lack of data and direction only elevates the safety risks to the motoring public. A mandate for a one-size-fits-all speed limiter will squelch innovation in technologies to enhance safety and accommodate not only highways, but potentially secondary roads and beyond.”
The ATA has already requested another 30 days be granted for public comments.
“ATA will then prepare its formal comments, fully illustrating the flaws of this proposed rulemaking, which we will not support as currently drafted,” Spear said.
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I’m a driver in Ontario Canada. I drive on some of the busiest corridors in North America. Speeds are an issue, as it is every where else as well. We are mandated by law to run speed limiters
(105-108km/hr, roughly 65 to 68mi/hr) on large trucks. This was a relief in fact. Because the insurance companies were imposing huge premiums if you didn’t turn your speed down( ECM). This was before it was law. Now it’s law and premiums still rise in cost. smh!
Compliance meant you saved money, fuel and down time. The problem being not all the trucks were in compliance with their insurance carrier. Mixing fast trucks with slow trucks on the freeway( 400 series hwy in Ontario) became a huge problem. Now everyone has a slow truck by law, and it does work. Four wheelers are getting used to us, though there are still more than a few that don’t get it, and never will. All the transport drivers who drive with a speed limiter knows,the other truck beside him knows, every one knows. Yes there are ten mile passes, its not perfect. And it sucks and it creates impatient four wheelers who will do something stupid/deadly. Now, American trucks entering into Ontario from the USA will see a huge billboard advising them that speed limiters are required, and most do comply. There is always the exception. And when one transport truck comes along, hammer down with no speed limiter, it disrupts the flow of traffic. It happens with cars and trucks.
If mandating speed limiters applies to large vehicles, it should apply to all vehicles. If safety is your concern, and speed limiters are the answer. Then the answer must include four wheelers also.
If safety is truly your number one concern. Then mandating a more comprehensive training course for all drivers might be a good place to start.
Why don;t the DOT AN THE SO CALLED PEOPLE who want the speed limiters go out on the road for a year an find out for themselfs it not good to limit truck speed it is dangerous you can not pull yourself out of bind if you meet on coming traffic.Why don;t the DOT just leave us truckers alone we are micro manage to much now,no wonder nobody wants to get into trucking.