In a recent move, lawmakers are pushing back against a potential regulation that would require speed limiters on commercial motor vehicles. On July 12th, the House Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee made progress by advancing an appropriations bill for fiscal year 2024. This bill includes a crucial provision that prevents the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) from using funds to pursue their speed limiter rulemaking initiative.
“None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this act or any other act may be used to promulgate any rule or regulation to require vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of more than 26,000 pounds operating in interstate commerce to be equipped with a speed limiting device set to a maximum speed,” the bill text states.
The bill is set to be reviewed by the full committee for a markup hearing in the near future. According to Jay Grimes, OOIDA’s director of federal affairs, this provision offers an additional opportunity to oppose speed limiters on large trucks.
“Typically, some form of a transportation appropriations bill is enacted every year, and this is another legislative opportunity to prevent FMCSA from advancing any type of harmful speed limiter mandate,” Grimes said.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued notice last year that it is considering a proposal to require speed-limiting devices on commercial motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight over 26,001 pounds. This comes after thousands of truck drivers voiced their opposition to the mandate.
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) strongly opposes the use of speed limiters, citing concerns about dangerous speed differentials and potential road rage incidents. While safety groups advocate for a top speed of 60 mph, opponents argue that this could cause increased interactions and frustration among passenger vehicle drivers who may encounter trucks with higher speed limits.
The FMCSA plans to release a notice of supplemental proposed rulemaking later this year.
Source: Land Line
