A Thought about Speed Limiters

[spudhead911]

Here’s a thought about the speed limiter issue for Canadian loads. If your truck engine is under warranty and Canadian officials plug into your ECM to check the speed setting and something goes wrong and your ECM gets fried, who pays for the repair/replacement of the ECM?

If someone other than an authorized dealer or service center hooks up to your ECM and damages it, would the OEM warranty cover it, or will they say the warranty is voided because a non-authorized facility, in this case the Canadian government damaged the unit? Will the Canadian government pay for the repair/replacement of the ECM? I kind of doubt it. That being the case, guess who is stuck with the very large bill for a new ECM?

In my humble opinion this is one more reason not to run in Canada while the speed limiter law is in effect. Maybe if the carrier will step up and say they will cover the cost of any damages done to your vehicle by the Canadian government hooking up to your ECM, and will pay each time you have to have a shop set your ECM to run in Canada, then pay to have it reset when you leave Canada, I might consider running Canadian loads.

Another thought is that maybe all U.S. carriers say to Canada, if you want your goods shipped rescind the speed limiter law, or make U.S. based trucks exempt from the Canadian law on speed limiters. I really don’t see this happening, so for now I guess it’s going to be every contractor doing what’s best for his bottom line.

I think us contractors really have to look into the warranty issue before making a decision about running in Canada. I for one will not let anyone hook into my ECM if they will not cover any damages it might do.

What’s the next thing Canada is going to do to us? Maybe we will have to show them our underwear don’t have any skid marks in them.

 

[bubblehead]

Here’s a thought about the speed limiter issue for Canadian loads. If your truck engine is under warranty and Canadian officials plug into your ECM to check the speed setting and something goes wrong and your ECM gets fried, who pays for the repair/replacement of the ECM?

If someone other than an authorized dealer or service center hooks up to your ECM and damages it, would the OEM warranty cover it, or will they say the warranty is voided because a non-authorized facility, in this case the Canadian government damaged the unit? Will the Canadian government pay for the repair/replacement of the ECM? I kind of doubt it. That being the case, guess who is stuck with the very large bill for a new ECM?

In my humble opinion this is one more reason not to run in Canada while the speed limiter law is in effect. May be if the carrier will step up and say they will cover the cost of any damages done to your vehicle by the Canadian government hooking up to your ECM, and will pay each time you have to have a shop set your ECM to run in Canada, then pay to have it reset when you leave Canada, I might consider running Canadian loads.

Another thought is that maybe all U.S. carriers say to Canada, if you want your goods shipped rescind the speed limiter law, or make U.S. based trucks exempt from the Canadian law on speed limiters. I really don’t see this happening, so for now I guess it’s going to be every contractor doing what’s best for his bottom line.

I think us contractors really have to look into the warranty issue before making a decision about running in Canada. I for one will not let anyone hook into my ECM if they will not cover any damages it might do.

What’s the next thing Canada is going to do to us? Maybe we will have to show them our underwear don’t have any skid marks in them.

Good question probably best addressed to the engine manufacturer and a minor expense compared to potential loss of revenue on the US side eg.
For those that run other than the east coast or OHIO etc., if you run 150k miles per year with a 3mph average reduction in speed do to the limiter (from 68 to 65) that would equal a loss of 102 hours. Multiply 102 by 68 and you have 6,936 revenue miles lost. Multiply that by say 1.20 per mile equals $8,323.00 revenue dollars lost per truck. For a 10 truck fleet owner, his loss would be $83,230.00. And a Carrier with 1000 26001# or greater gvwr trucks lose $8,323,000.00 X 1.45 (for their fee over pay out to fleet) equals $12,068,350.00 gross revenue. Add the effect of limited speed to make up for loss time due to fueling, bathroom breaks, DOT etc.... Looking at our canadian offers over all offers and we have a percrntage of approx 2% canadian to domestic. I can only assume that our carrier has already calculated benefits and determined the $12 million loss in domestic revenue is offset by gains on the Canadian side.
(Used cellphone calculator for math but should be close)

 

[Turtle]

For one, it's highly unlikely that plugging a code reader into the ECM port is going to damage the ECM. You can buy code readers at Autozone. I've never heard of a code reader damaging an ECM. The only way that's going to happen is if you plug it in while the engine is running and you get an electrical surge in there or something that fries the computer, but there are safeguards built in to prevent even that.

Two, if the ECM was somehow damagaed by a code reader, there is, like, no way that the damage can be traced to someone plugging in a code reader. If the ECM is still under warranty, then it's under warranty.

 

[moose]

Another thought is that maybe all U.S. carriers say to Canada, if you want your goods shipped rescind the speed limiter law, or make U.S. based trucks exempt from the Canadian law on speed limiters. I really don’t see this happening, so for now I guess it’s going to be every contractor doing what’s best for his bottom line..

And that's , my friend ,is the whole point behind the speed limiters law ,
to get US trucks , from going north of the border - more work for Canadian trucks .
same goe's to California.

BTW ,sorry for your lost...
GL



Moose.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

And besides..who cares about a few independent owners....stay in the US and suck it up.....

I see Fedex has put out the marching orders all trucks MUST have their ECMs set-up.....

 

[greg334]

Well the code reader that you get at auto zone won't work on a truck, different protocols and so on.

second unless there is something that is really messed up with the reader, like lightning striking the truck at the same time the OPP is plugging the reader in, there is little chance of any issue of the ecm frying because of the way the electronics are setup on the ecm.

third, I can't wait for it to become effective, it won't bother me a bit when I go to the Great country of Canada but I have been driving up and down 75 between Ohio and Michigan and rather sick of the Canadian trucks passing me doing 75 MPH, some are very dangerous when they are in some hurry to get to the border to wait. The have passed me on the right, even had one pass me on the shoulder and one going through downtown Detroit passing me at 80 MPH.

fourth, I have figured out how to change the top speed for my truck and others have too for theirs, I will share later. It is not easy to do at first but you have to have the right software and adapter but once it is done, it is not a big deal to go back and forth and the OPP can't do a thing about it because there is no time stamp on the ECM to reflect the time and date the change was made.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Well the code reader that you get at auto zone won't work on a truck, different protocols and so on.

second unless there is something that is really messed up with the reader, like lightning striking the truck at the same time the OPP is plugging the reader in, there is little chance of any issue of the ecm frying because of the way the electronics are setup on the ecm.

third, I can't wait for it to become effective, it won't bother me a bit when I go to the Great country of Canada but I have been driving up and down 75 between Ohio and Michigan and rather sick of the Canadian trucks passing me doing 75 MPH, some are very dangerous when they are in some hurry to get to the border to wait. The have passed me on the right, even had one pass me on the shoulder and one going through downtown Detroit passing me at 80 MPH.

fourth, I have figured out how to change the top speed for my truck and others have too for theirs, I will share later. It is not easy to do at first but you have to have the right software and adapter but once it is done, it is not a big deal to go back and forth and the OPP can't do a thing about it because there is no time stamp on the ECM to reflect the time and date the change was made.

Bet some of them crazy Quebecer drivers will be taking the NY thruway more to go around Ontario and into PQ thru Champlain!

 

[Turtle]

Well the code reader that you get at auto zone won't work on a truck, different protocols and so on.

Well, no, I know that, but the principle is the same. It's a port connection that the reader uses. The readers for cars have different software than the ones for trucks, but they all work exactly the same.

 

[Crazynuff]

Bet some of them crazy Quebecer drivers will be taking the NY thruway more to go around Ontario and into PQ thru Champlain!

Quebec has required speed limiters since the first of the year .

 

[FIS53]

Many cdn truckers were asking similar questions re the reader and the ecm causing problems or alterations. The ministry reps at the truck show were quite explicit in their explanation that the reader output was not there it only read the ecm settings for the speed (I'm assuming it can read every setting). There is always a possibility that an official in a hurry could muckup the plug in and damage a pin or two.

Yes make use of your laptop and a cable to plug into the port and the software to alter the settings in the ecm to make the change just prior to crossing the border and change it back once in the US again. Note though the law does say you are not to be in possession of such capability in the vehicle so for your sake hide the software in a different name directory (folder) and not have the cable out handy but hidden in a compartment somewhere out of sight. Yes I know the argument of "I use it to fine tune the injection system and the turbo etc", but they won't readily accept such. I know a couple of guys who already have this capability and are making use of it and keep it well out of sight.

This is not as big a problem as many think. One minor benefit is the fuel savings. Yeah I know you've all heard the arguments about fuel economy. Well it's actually true, lower speeds do save fuel and yes even those 3 mph will as well in most buggies. Your best fuel mileage should be between 58-62 mph due to the wind force, gearing and engine rpm.
Rob

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Many cdn truckers were asking similar questions re the reader and the ecm causing problems or alterations. The ministry reps at the truck show were quite explicit in their explanation that the reader output was not there it only read the ecm settings for the speed (I'm assuming it can read every setting). There is always a possibility that an official in a hurry could muckup the plug in and damage a pin or two.

Yes make use of your laptop and a cable to plug into the port and the software to alter the settings in the ecm to make the change just prior to crossing the border and change it back once in the US again. Note though the law does say you are not to be in possession of such capability in the vehicle so for your sake hide the software in a different name directory (folder) and not have the cable out handy but hidden in a compartment somewhere out of sight. Yes I know the argument of "I use it to fine tune the injection system and the turbo etc", but they won't readily accept such. I know a couple of guys who already have this capability and are making use of it and keep it well out of sight.

This is not as big a problem as many think. One minor benefit is the fuel savings. Yeah I know you've all heard the arguments about fuel economy. Well it's actually true, lower speeds do save fuel and yes even those 3 mph will as well in most buggies. Your best fuel mileage should be between 58-62 mph due to the wind force, gearing and engine rpm.
Rob

Rob..your singing to the choir....we've beat this dog into submission! They'll whine and cry but they'll submit, just like seatbelts and HOS...There is alot of intrusive laws on the books and this makes one more....

 

[FIS53]

Thanks OVM I know, but thought I'd put it in anyways. Just to keep it in their minds, maybe it'll sink a wee bit. Yeah right!
Rob

 

[Doggie Daddy]

I see Fedex has put out the marching orders all trucks MUST have their ECMs set-up.....

Not on my truck.

And another thing,We have not been notified by the Fed either by mail or their website that we MUST do anything to our truck.

Unless this is a new program that they are trying.Whenever they are going to change their policy,they will tell the Express-1 contractors,and then have them tell us about it.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Someone you know...hehe said they have to take the truck in to get the ecm done....a fleet truck...I might be wrong...maybe its a fleet order and not Fedex,s

 

[Doggie Daddy]

Someone you know...hehe said they have to take the truck in to get the ecm done....a fleet truck...I might be wrong...maybe its a fleet order and not Fedex,s

Aha,now were getting to the truth here. And yes you are correct that a certain fleet of red Kenworth's have been told that they will comply.

 

[nobb4u]

OMG what if:


" I just read in the Ottawa Daily News that next week a MP from the Northwest Territory will introduce a bill to the Canadian Parliament that will require ALL commercial vehicles that enter or operate in any Providence of Canada to have PERMANTLY attached or painted on both sides of their vehicle a Rainbow Ribbon. This is to show the world how gay friendly that the country of Canada has become. The fines for not having this will be high, first offense will be $100.00 all others will be $1000.00."

Think about how silly this is and what laws COULD be implimented if we all bow down to the ECM thing. WHAT IS NEXT???

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Aha,now were getting to the truth here. And yes you are correct that a certain fleet of red Kenworth's have been told that they will comply.

I see Fedex has a recruiting drive for Can. owner/operators....wonder why?

 

[OntarioVanMan]

OMG what if:


" I just read in the Ottawa Daily News that next week a MP from the Northwest Territory will introduce a bill to the Canadian Parliament that will require ALL commercial vehicles that enter or operate in any Providence of Canada to have PERMANTLY attached or painted on both sides of their vehicle a Rainbow Ribbon. This is to show the world how gay friendly that the country of Canada has become. The fines for not having this will be high, first offense will be $100.00 all others will be $1000.00."

Think about how silly this is and what laws COULD be implimented if we all bow down to the ECM thing. WHAT IS NEXT???

Sorry but you've all ready bowed and STILL on your knees to FMSCA.....the seatbelt laws...HOS

And whats wrong with gay? BTW?

 

[piper1]

I see Fedex has a recruiting drive for Can. owner/operators....wonder why?

They should work on getting freight for the ones they have first.

Guess that sounds a little bitter doesn't it?

 

[OntarioVanMan]

They should work on getting freight for the ones they have first.

Guess that sounds a little bitter doesn't it?

Fedex has to do something....if the yanks won't cross...they can't afford to cross dock everything for too long....the yanks will be just shooting themselves in the foot....