Speed Limiters: Are They Beneficial?

FMCSA announced federally mandated speed limiters.

The National Roadway Safety Strategy identified speed as a significant factor in fatal crashes and speed management as a primary tool to reduce serious injuries and fatalities.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/speed-limiters

Limiting commercial vehicle Crash-Collisions has always been the primary goal of the FMCSA. Obviously every owner-operator has this same idea in mind when transporting. Getting home safe is probably the first thing on your mind when driving your rig. The FMCSA may share the same basic goal as the average owner-operator, however they draw a lot of criticism with every proposed regulation. Speed limiter regulations are no exception.

The FMCSA’s proposal of a federally mandated speed limiter has been very controversial within the trucking industry, and even in the general population. In late April 2022, they stated their intent to mandate a speed limiter on most commercial vehicles. This mandatory device would limit all commercial vehicles speeds somewhere between 60-70 mph, although the FMCSA has not determined an exact limit has not been determined.

Disagreement on effectiveness

The FMCSA and supporters of the regulation believe that speed limiters will dramatically cut down fatal Crash-Collision. Reducing a CMV’s speed by even 10 mph makes a huge difference in the outcome a collision.

Critics of the proposed regulation argue that speed limiters are counter productive for road safety. They emphasize that the regulation would not account for the most important factor in a collision: speed differential.

Differences/changes in speed are the main concern for accidents. We are put in much more danger when trucks are going excessively slower than the general public. I believe trucks should not be speed limited. If trucks are limited to 70 or 75 then all vehicles should be limited as well. Many passenger vehicles show no respect to commercial vehicles and that is when preventable accidents happen.

G&R Transport Express L.L.C.
https://www.regulations.gov/comment/FMCSA-2022-0004-2838

Many stretches of highway in the U.S. have speed limits well above 65 mph. Forcing commercial vehicles to travel up to 15-20 mph slower than non commercial traffic puts both at risk.

Operators Weigh In

After announcing their intentions, the FMCSA opened the proposal up to public comment. The FMCSA originally set the comment period close June 3, 2022, but have extended the window to July 18. As you would expect, many operators and trucking companies are taking the opportunity to voice their opinions on speed limiters.

The majority of comments have been in opposition to a mandated speed limiter. Many seem to feel that the regulators have never been in a truck.

I wish you guys can be a day in a truck of a owner operator. This regulation is not right

Mountain Glaze Transportation l.l.c.
https://www.regulations.gov/comment/FMCSA-2022-0004-1375

Other commenters argue that speed limiters will cause traffic issues and congestion.

Speed limiters will only create more traffic problems. Trucks will never be set to an absolute speed regardless of emc tuning. Tire size, aerodynamics, inside vs outside lanes in curves, etc will always make one truck slightly faster or slower than another. This will cause trucks to pass each other for miles at a time causing congestion and unsafe roadways.

A few bad drivers have made a bad name for truckers. Stronger enforcement of traffic laws and better training programs will go a lot further than any speed limiters.

Willow transportation l.l.c.
https://www.regulations.gov/comment/FMCSA-2022-0004-1734

There is no doubt that speed limiters are a contentious topic with many pros and cons to consider. If you are reading this before July 18, you still have time to share your thoughts with the FMCSA.

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