A bill aimed at preventing the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) from imposing speed limiters on trucks has gained traction in the House, garnering 40 co-sponsors.
Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif., threw his support behind the DRIVE Act, also known as HR3039, on Tuesday, March 19. This month, Reps. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., and Diana Harshbarger, R-Tenn., joined as co-sponsors, boosting the total number of supporters to 40 in the House and 10 in the Senate.
The DRIVE Act, introduced by Rep. Josh Brecheen, R-Okla., in May 2023 and followed by Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., with S2761 last July, seeks to prohibit FMCSA from mandating speed limiting devices on certain vehicles.
FMCSA’s ongoing efforts toward a rulemaking on speed limiters, with a projected formal proposal in May, have met resistance from truckers. The proposed rule would enforce speed limits on most commercial motor vehicles, with potential top speeds discussed ranging from 60 to 70 mph.
Truckers have voiced concerns about speed limiters, highlighting dangerous speed differentials, compromised ability to avoid accidents, and increased risk of road rage. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), representing around 150,000 members, opposes the mandate, citing statistics showing a significant rise in vehicle interactions when trucks travel below posted speed limits.
“Recently, FMCSA confirmed that the next phase of its speed limiter rulemaking is expected in May,” OOIDA wrote. “While the agency considers their next steps, we aren’t waiting around. That’s why OOIDA continues to press Congress to stop speed limiters through the DRIVE Act. We need you to join the fight today.”
A grassroots campaign supporting the DRIVE Act has gained momentum, with many lawmakers viewing it as a matter of states’ rights. They argue that federal imposition of truck speed limits would undermine states’ authority to regulate speeds on their highways.
Tennessee’s recent decision to abolish split speed limits for cars and trucks on Interstate 81 underscores this stance, with trucks now allowed to travel at 70 mph alongside cars. If FMCSA were to enforce a 60-mph speed limit for trucks, it would create a split speed limit against the state’s preferences.
For more information on the DRIVE Act and how to engage with lawmakers on this issue, visit FightingForTruckers.com.
Source: Land Line
