Commercial vehicle speed limit law back under government review

Authorities will reconsider legislative proposal requiring speed limits for commercial vehicles.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued a notice of intent, according to which the agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration put forward a new proposal in September 2016.

It called for “truck carriers operating commercial vehicles in interstate commerce with a gross vehicle weight or gross vehicle weight of 26,001 pounds or more that are equipped with an electronic engine control unit to limit the CMV to a speed to be determined by rulemaking, and maintained this ECU setting throughout the lifetime of the vehicle.”

The FMCSA notice does not specify specific speeds. However, in 2016 the law required a maximum of 60, 65 and 68 mph.

A little less than a year ago, a bill reappeared in the House of Representatives regarding the problem of truck speeds.

Transport organizations reacted to it in different ways. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association continues to oppose any restrictions.

“We intend to thoroughly review FMCSA’s proposal, and we look forward to working with the agency to shape a final rule that is consistent with our policy supporting the use of speed limiters in conjunction with numerous other safety technologies,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear.

The Cullum Owings Large Truck Safe Working Speed ​​Act was reintroduced by Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA) and Rep. John Catko (D-NY).

If the restriction approved by law, all the commercial vehicles would be required to use speed limiters.