In The News
FMCSA, NHTSA get an earful from truckers concerning speed limit rule
WASHINGTON — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently extended by 30 days through December 7 the public comment period on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on speed limiters for heavy trucks, saying the "extension is in the public interest since it will provide the public additional time to prepare and submit useful technical information and comments that should benefit agency decision making in this rulemaking action."
As of November 8, over 3,650 comments had been submitted, a majority from professional truck drivers and if a random check of 100 of those comments reveal anything, it's that truck drivers are opposed — sometimes vehemently — to the thought of a speed limiter rule, even though many are driving for companies that already limit the speed of their trucks.
Most said their peace in a sentence or two.
A few wrote an essay, which have been edited for publication.
Here's a sample of what they said.
"I'm going to be short and simple: Please don't make providing for my family any more difficult and dangerous than what it is now. I work so hard, staying away a week at a time, for what little bit my family is proud to have. Please consider what this would do to so many thousands of families and how it would affect the lives of so many more. Please, leave us alone." — Joshua King, Newnan, Georgia
"I'm sorry, but you all blame trucks for wrecks involving speed. There are already 70 percent of trucks governed and there are still wrecks. You need to govern cars and pickups. They race up on a slow trucks and rear end them and when passing (they are) playing with the phone. If you need to govern trucks, then at least make it 70. But you would solve 90 percent of wrecks if you would stop speeding cars and pickups. Ride with me for a day and you will see." — Robert Leavitt, Newton, Kansas
"I believe the speed limiter would be a negative for the trucking industry. You have a four- wheeler running at the speed limit or faster and larger vehicles pulling out to pass. I believe this will cause more rear-end crashes that will up the death rate. It will also cause more traffic problems because it will take a lot longer for the larger vehicle to get around each other. I believe this regulation will cause more accidents and possibly deaths. — Bob Franklin
"A disparity in speed limits for various vehicles is never a good or safe idea. Lane changes are hazardous enough without decreasing our speed. With the 14-hour rule we absolutely need all the miles we can legally achieve. A slower speed limit achieves nothing but adding on yet more government regulation." — Stan Lee, Sharpsburg, Georgia
"If trucks are governed at lower speeds all vehicles should be at the same speeds, not just truckers." — Jeffrey N Mai, Houston
This is absolutely ridiculous. First, four wheelers cause a MAJORITY of accidents involving 18 wheelers. Secondly, drivers already have deadlines for loads and some do want home time. Why screw the drivers that make EVERYONE'S life go around? Do not pass this!" — Kimberly Bauer, Lewisburg, Tennessee
"This is the same tactics the government used to destroy mom and pop stores. Over-regulate them to the point of closing their doors so super chains like Walmart can take over — and have — and get richer while putting the entrepreneur out of business. They want to do that to the trucking industry and here's why and how. They want it down to four or five major companies by bringing the shipping prices down to nothing so that owner-operators are forced out of business. because of the student training. You want to help with the accidents, then there should be no over-the-road student drivers. They are the danger when you take them out of a Honda Accord and put them in an 18 wheeler at 80,000 pounds. You're asking for trouble. We are professionals and are treated like pre-schoolers. Stop micro managing us. — William Henson
"True studies show that most accidents are caused by distracted car drivers, drivers who do not have the skills to drive on the roads at the speeds they have today, young drivers that do not know the rules of the road who are driving in the middle lane and staying there when not actively passing other vehicles drivers, drivers who can't parallel park and don't know that you're not supposed to pass on the right hand side so they cut across lanes of traffic to get to an exit signs that can keep a car in the middle of the lane and drivers who drive too closely behind trucks. — Leo Brown
"I am in opposition to your speed limiting rule. There are specific dangers that even the State of California recognizes in this area. They have spent millions and millions on developing interchanges so that slow-moving traffic is moved off the freeway prior to an interchange merge then rejoins traffic. If California has spent decades developing these interchanges, none of the other states has the developed infrastructure. With California having therefore proved that differing speeds is a serious safety concern, and no other states are prepared for this change, you are creating a severe safety problem." — David Buck, Layton, Utah
"Split speed limits are dangerous. The general motoring public is already distracted with other activities other than driving. Even though in many states it's illegal to text, in the majority of the cars that pass by us the driver is texting. That being said, there will be a rise in cars rear ending trucks. I've seen it in states with split speed limits. A slower speed doesn't really save fuel unless the truck is running on flat ground. Here are my thoughts on this: Govern trucks to 75 mph maximum speed. Make dash cams required in all trucks, focusing on the road, not the driver.
There should be no lane restrictions on trucks passing through metropolitan areas with less than four lanes of interstate in each direction. With three lanes or less and trucks, which are normally passing through, can't use the left lane, we are stuck in the two right lanes with people stopping in the road to exit and with those that do not understand the concept of yield." — Kenneth Turner, Chesnee, South Carolina
"It's the dumbest law ever. Traffic flows better when you take away governors because who wants to ride behind a big truck for 10 miles while he passes another truck because he's lighter? Are you people really that stupid? — James Maupin
To comment on the proposed rulemaking:
- Go to www.regulations.gov
- Type FMCSA-2014-0083 in the search box.
- On the page that comes up, you will see Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation: Speed Limiting Devices twice.
- To the right of the second time the phrase appears, look for the button that says Comment Now.
- Click on the Comment Now button and follow the instructions on the page that appears.