Today's the day - Big trucks can now do 65 mph in Ohio on interstates

[Dreammaker]

A change in state law will allow most trucks to go 65 miles-per-hour on many of Ohio's interstates starting July 1. The change applies only to interstates - not U.S. routes, state routes or other multi-lane divided highways - where currently the speed limits are split between 65 mph and 55 mph... Ohio Department of Transportation crews will update hundreds of speed limit signs across the state... At locations where signs are already separated - one sign for 65 mph and another for 55 mph for vehicles weighing more than 4 tons empty - outdated signs and posts will be removed...

 

[ATeam]

While I agree that the elimination of split speed limits is a good thing, I would have preferred to see car speeds reduced to 55 mph instead of truck speeds increased. Fuel economy is better at slower speeds.

 

[cheri1122]

Dream on, Phil - how many 4 wheelers are going to drive 55 to gain fuel economy?
Now, if Il & Ca would follow suit, the interstates would be far safer, IMO.

 

[LDB]

I guess that makes my usual 60-62 ok now. I could go with a 60mph limit across the board. Anything below that is too slow and destined to fail just as we saw the last time 55 was tried. Even 60 is going to meet heavy resistance but would get somewhat better observance.

 

[ATeam]

I'm not advocating a specific speed or saying 55 mph will work. Just stating my preference for a uniform 55 mph speed limit. I know this is a minority view. 55 mph would work if speed limiters were put on cars. Think green! Think safety! Think how much better off the four-wheelers can be!

 

[Turtle]

I think all speed limits should be abolished.

 

[cheri1122]

Hey! I've said that for a long time, too. I think the sole criteria should be "too fast for prevailing conditions" which means that in heavy fog, 40mph may be too fast to drive.
Just not sure that every LEO can be trusted to use good judgement....

 

[LDB]

I think the sole criteria should be "too fast for prevailing conditions" which means that in heavy fog, 40mph may be too fast to drive.
Just not sure that every LEO can be trusted to use good judgement....

That's the problem. You can't set a gray standard and achieve black and white results. You'll have some who think the maximum legal limit is ok and some who think that any more than half of safely sensible is too fast. You have to have a set standard as a base point to measure from. Certainly in heavy fog or at any time for that matter it should be remembered the speed limit is a definition of the maximum legal speed not the suggested speed. I just don't see anything below 60 as being feasible from an operational standpoint. Give the current administration a little time though. They'll be after speed limiters on all vehicles as well as some sort of punitive financial cost to us all. They are just like the LEOs who couldn't be trusted with enough common sense to regulate a gray area speed limit, too short on common sense.

 

[mjolnir131]

While I agree that the elimination of split speed limits is a good thing, I would have preferred to see car speeds reduced to 55 mph instead of truck speeds increased. Fuel economy is better at slower speeds.

this only applys to older,read 2004-2005 or older freightliner or any kw or pb, truck really the last 3 freightliners i had got the worst fuel milage at 55,one got the best at 61 one at 66 and this one around 63-64 still dialing in the exact number.

no offence to the kw or pb guys just there engins use a low tech sultion to the new regs and it's not all that effecent,thats why Cat got compleatly out of the truck engine market

 

[ATeam]

Lower truck speeds produce better fuel economy because wind resistance increases at higher speeds. The laws of physics apply equally to all truck brands.

On our 2006 Volvo, we can instantly see the difference. On any road, if we are driving 65 mph and then slow to 55 mph, the mpg indicator improves by about 1 mpg. It's not about the truck brand or specs. It's about the wind.

 

[greg334]

Actually, it all depends on how the truck is geared and the engine not just the wind resistance. Once it reaches a certain threshold the wind effects the mileage more than the engine's efficiency.

For example;
My truck gets better mileage at 61-63 than it ever does at 55-56. I know of a like truck with the same drive train (FL70, ISC Spicer 6+1) but different gearing that gets better mileage at 55-56. I have a short sleeper with a lot of wind resistance due to my reefer unit, the other truck is the same.

Both of these figures were derived by using the ECM, not fill and check that many people use.

 

[mjolnir131]

Lower truck speeds produce better fuel economy because wind resistance increases at higher speeds. The laws of physics apply equally to all truck brands.

On our 2006 Volvo, we can instantly see the difference. On any road, if we are driving 65 mph and then slow to 55 mph, the mpg indicator improves by about 1 mpg. It's not about the truck brand or specs. It's about the wind.

If all trucks wear totally identical this would very much be a factual statement but they are not,how the engine deals with ULSD, the way the transmissions works, gear ratios, etc, etc .it's one of those real life application trumps all the models and calculations and the cold hard data is below about 58 MPH on the last three truck i have had the pleasure to drive was the lest efficient place to drive,especially with 6 hours driving at 55 equaled one wasted hour having to sit and regen one hour of High idle is so fuel efficient trust me

 

[Moot]

I ran up I-75 last night after midnight and noticed the split speed limit signs were still in place. Behind each old sign was a new one with the single 65 speed limit. I would guess that crews were out at the break of dawn yanking out the old signs by the roots.

 

[alwaysontime]

I think all speed limits should be abolished.

Even in school zones?

 

[Poorboy]

I was at the "J" in Perrysburgh Today and Overheard a Couple of Drivers talking about the Speed Limit Change in Ohio! They were Saying That Since the Speed Limit Changed That The D.O.T. Is Now Working the Ohio Turnpike and That They Saw 5 Seperate Diesel Bears working it from The Indiana Line to Cleveland. Anyone Know If that's True?

 

[Scuba]

Ohio lawmakers have already proposed to raise the speed of cars to 70mph so look for the split speed limit to return. The Ohio State Police are fighting this they also wanted a 1 speed for all set at 55mph.

 

[greg334]

I was at the "J" in Perrysburgh Today and Overheard a Couple of Drivers talking about the Speed Limit Change in Ohio! They were Saying That Since the Speed Limit Changed That The D.O.T. Is Now Working the Ohio Turnpike and That They Saw 5 Seperate Diesel Bears working it from The Indiana Line to Cleveland. Anyone Know If that's True?

Ah no, the turnpike has always been 65 or has been for the last 4 years. They are replacing some of the signs but not all places are going to be equal speeds or at least that is what I was told today by the cop who pulled me over for doing 65 in a 55, ****hint follow what the signs say.

I can see the J right now, looks like a convention over there.

 

[nightcreacher]

I'm so happy the speed has increased to 65 for trucks here in Ohio,now the extra fuel tax money might repair our roads.The extra 10 mph in most cases will loose about 1 mile per gallon,thats about an extra penny and a half in fuel taxes per mile.

 

[Crazynuff]

I'm so happy the speed has increased to 65 for trucks here in Ohio,now the extra fuel tax money might repair our roads.The extra 10 mph in most cases will loose about 1 mile per gallon,thats about an extra penny and a half in fuel taxes per mile.

As stated earlier , the speed which results in the best fuel economy depends on how the truck is is geared . The sweet spot on my ruck is between 1400-1500 rpm . that's between 63-68 m.p.h. . You'd rarely see anyone going 55 m.p.h. in OH . The right lane ran about a steady 60 m.p.h. .

 

[moose]

Lower truck speeds produce better fuel economy because wind resistance increases at higher speeds. The laws of physics apply equally to all truck brands.

.

Actually , i remember reading some years ago , one of the very first wind test at the new (at the time) wind tunnel facility ,at frieghtliner , ...
they tested, if you can gear the truck for fuel economy , and found that the best speed , if the truck geared right , will be :
34 MPH.
and that if the truck is loaded up to gross , it will be 29.
something about the best fuel consumption / and the time it take to complete a mil.

good luck with that legislation...


Oh ,Yah ,
and the electronics pre-emission engines got the best fuel millage ,
lets mandate them back , just get an after market ECR/PDF system to take care of the environment...