The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration caused a stir by suggesting a 68 mph speed limit for heavy-duty trucks. The agency quickly removed the specific speed limit from its report, however, after backlash from trade groups and media outlets.
FMCSA spokesperson Kala Wright clarified that the 68 mph limit is unofficial and requires further review before any official proposal is made.
“No decision has been made on the maximum speed limit that would be proposed in the upcoming SNPRM,” Wright said in a statement to Trucking Dive.
FMCSA officials are still committed to releasing their latest proposal on the long-awaited rule by Dec. 29, according to updated language. The agency and external consultants carefully examined over 15,000 responses received during a public comment period on speed limiters.
The use of this technology is a highly debated issue in the trucking industry, with the American Trucking Associations in favor and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association against it.
ATA’s membership is mainly made up of big trucking fleets, many of which already use speed limiters. On the other hand, OOIDA, which represents small businesses and owner-operators, thinks that making speed limiters mandatory takes away their last advantage over larger competitors.
According to OOIDA President Todd Spencer, making trucks drive slower than the rest of traffic results in more interactions between vehicles and leads to an increase in accidents.
“This isn’t safe for truckers, but especially not safe for passenger vehicle drivers sharing the road with trucks,” Spencer said.
Source: Trucking Dive
