The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is on a mission to identify regulations that don’t contribute to safety. Among the feedback they’ve received are pleas from truck drivers, urging them to abandon a proposed speed limiter mandate for commercial motor vehicles.
“Get rid of the FMCSA speed limiter mandate proposal,” wrote Edward Vazemiller in a public comment. “It is unsafe for semitrucks. OOIDA even had a video about it. Speed limiters on semitrucks will cause more road rage, shootings, traffic, bumper-to-bumper traffic, rear-end collisions, and more accidents overall. Plus, it will delay the supply chain of America.”
Public Opposition to Speed Limiters
On April 3, as part of a broader initiative to curb excessive regulation, the DOT launched a 30-day public comment period. Within two weeks, they had already received close to 500 comments. Many truckers voiced concerns about the rigid hours-of-service regulations, the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate, and, most prominently, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) speed limiter proposal.
“Proposed speed limiters are a bad idea,” commented Jeffrey Hartman, a veteran commercial driver with 35 years of experience and a spotless record of 4 million crash-free miles. “I have avoided many accidents by being able to accelerate my way out of trouble. The companies employing speed regulators now are one of the major causes of accidents.”
The FMCSA Speed Limiter Proposal
After issuing a notice in 2022, the FMCSA considered mandating speed-limiting devices for commercial vehicles weighing over 26,001 pounds. While no specific maximum speed was suggested, some safety advocates pushed for a 60 mph cap.
The response was overwhelmingly negative, with the proposal drawing over 15,000 public comments. Drivers and organizations like the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) have highlighted a significant concern with the speed differentials this would create between trucks and passenger vehicles, potentially leading to more dangerous road conditions.
Many truckers see the speed limiter proposal as a prime candidate for repeal. A bill in Congress that aims to prevent FMCSA from implementing speed limiter mandates in the future adds weight to their calls.
“Another rule that has been proposed but not enacted is the speed limiter proposal,” wrote Dwayne Pope, a commenter. “If enacted, this will destroy many lives because car drivers have become so impatient and dangerous nowadays. They cut slower-moving vehicles off and perform very dangerous maneuvers to get around trucks. Accidents will increase, and then the FMCSA and DOT will blame trucks and implement more useless regulations.”
How to Voice Your Opinion
The DOT invites public comments regarding regulations that could be modified or repealed. To provide feedback, visit Regulations.gov and enter Docket No. DOT-OST-2025-0026-0001. The comment period is open until May 5, giving stakeholders ample time to express their concerns.
For additional input beyond the comment window, you can email the DOT at [email protected]. Include “Regulatory Reform RFI” in the email’s subject line to ensure your suggestions are directed appropriately.
Source: Land Line
