Speed limiters on trucks

Crazynuff

Veteran Expediter
Most of you probably drive under 68 m.p.h. anyway but do you agree limiting all trucks manufactured to 68 m.p.h. would increase safety ? "The Trucker " newspaper is inviting comments from drivers . Contact [email protected]
 

terryandrene

Veteran Expediter
Safety & Compliance
US Coast Guard
Only if they equally limited 4 wheelers, 2 wheelers, tour busses, school busses, Church and College 12 passenger vans, and another mode of transportation where the operator has a cell phone to their ear.
 

Tennesseahawk

Veteran Expediter
They made a good point on the truckers channel the other day. Limiting trucks to 68 would also, in a way, obligate them to drive 68, even in areas or conditions they wouldn't normally. I also noticed when two speed-limited trucks get next to each other, traffic goes nowhere. Two big enough reasons not to limit trucks.

"If I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don't know." - Kansas
 

rode2rouen

Expert Expediter
This is brought to you by the American Trucking Assn. They have some very convoluted thinking going on the topic, but they are pushing the proposal.

The OOIDA has come out VERY STRONGLY against speed limiting rules as well as Electronic On Board Recorders (EBORs), which the ATA also favors.

If you have been on the fence about joining OOIDA, the "Big Brother" aspect of either of these 2 proposals should have you joining ASAP!!


Rex
 

RichM

Veteran Expediter
Charter Member
Well I will vote for the other side. About 11 years ago I was rear ended near Memphis at about 0600. The driver for Landair fell asleep and he hit me at about 90 mph. The impact was so great the back of my truck went up and over his hood,then he slammed on his brakes and I came down off his hood,bounced like crazy and managed to get it stopped. If he had hit me at a angle rather then straight on I probably would have rolled and not been here today. When 80,000 pounds hits you at 90 mph you are lucky to walk away.

I was doing 65mph,if his truck was limited to 68 mph the impact would have been considerably less so I would vote for speed limiters. Out west you get these clowns doing 85-90 mph for no reason. What have they gained at the end of their day,75 miles more and managed to tweak out 3 mpg.
 

LDB

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
I'll sign on at 75-78mph but not at 68. A truck should be able to do the max speed limit in any state, perhaps with a 2-3mph reserve. Anything more than that isn't needed. As Rich pointed out, there are idiots driving rigs that shouldn't be allowed more than a tricycle. Letting them be stupid at 90-100mph is even more ridiculous.

Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
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Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.
 

Deville

Not a Member
I say NO to Limters!
Its nice to be able to keep up with traffic and not get nasty looks when people pass you.
Keep a decent space cushion & you will be fine regardless of the speed traveled or road conditons.
 

panthervanman

Seasoned Expediter
I think that all vehicles should have limiters on them. I can't see 68mph though.It should be set at the highest speed limit in the states! I have a lead foot. I bought a car last year that I took to the race track to see what I counld top out at,and I was able to hit about 145mph with a stock motor,if the highest speed limit is 75mph why are they putting cars out there that will double that?? I think its for the money that the states make on speeders. I catch myself going 80-90mph in my car and its so smooth and quiet that I don't even relize it. To top it off there are still cars going by me!!! You have to turn a 16 year over with a car that flies,I know that cars have alway been fast,but shouldn't we learn from our past.I don't know about you but when I was 16 and got my dads car the first thing me and my buddies did is see how fast it would go. I guess I'm just getting old,or is it because I have 3 grandkids now!!!!If a truck drives75 or 80 mph isn't that going to show up at the end of his 11hrs of driving or is that when they use two log books ,I don't know that's why I'm asking. thks Panthervanman:7 :7 :7 ;-)
 

Crazynuff

Veteran Expediter
Good points were made at limiting at a higher speed but not 68 . I wrote to " The Trucker " and I also mentioned trucks that have limiters being the worst offenders in zones of 55 m.p.h. or less . I also said driving 5 m.p.h or more slower than the flow of traffic would make it more difficult to move to the left lane when approaching vehicles on the shoulder . Fatigue also has to be considered . By lowering the speed of trucks these carriers make a run off a little over 600 miles an 11 hour run rather than a 10 hour run . Most of us have read the data showing how much more a driver is at risk of accident in the 11th of driving .
It has suggested joining the OOIDA would help fight the ATA proposal . I think it would be more effective for individual drivers to write to their Congressmen and the FHWA , giving real world experiences you can substantiate rather than opinions of desk jockeys . I think every company executive pushing for speed limiters should be forced to have the speed of his POV limited to 68 m.p.h. .
 

Tennesseahawk

Veteran Expediter
Rich, I see your point, especially being a victim of such an accident. However, one bad apple shouldn't spoil the bunch. If they (the government) were so worried about safety, why wouldn't all new cars have breathalizers built into the ignition? If they (ATA) were so worried about safety, why don't they revamp their puppy farm training schools? It's all about money. If the ATA can get O/Os to slow down, it limits one of the few advantages the O/Os have... getting the freight there faster. Frankly, the ATA won't be happy till their members have 100% market share, driven by the rookies they spit out of their cracker jack cdl facilities. If anything, I vote against everything the ATA stands for... cause you know it's bad for the O/O.

"If I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don't know." - Kansas
 

rode2rouen

Expert Expediter
>>snip
>It has suggested joining the OOIDA would help fight the ATA
>proposal . I think it would be more effective for individual
>drivers to write to their Congressmen and the FHWA........
>

I stand by my statement regarding joining the OOIDA, but you bring up an excellent point. Hearing directly from their constituents(sp?) is an effective way to put the bug in the ear of our elected representatives. And that applies on the Federal, State and Local level. Letters, phone calls and e-mails are all legitimate means of getting their attention as to your opinion on issues.

oHIo governor, Bob Taft's office responds to my weekly e-mails urging him to resign!}>


Rex
 

bamamule

Seasoned Expediter
why not reduce the speed of a truck that breaks the law if you get a ticket in a 25 mph zone reduce that truck to 25 for a year
just had a swift fly past us today about 65 mph in a 35 mph zone i think that would be better just slow down the speeders not everybody
 

greg334

Veteran Expediter
Hey all remember that with slower vehicles mixed with vehicles running at high speeds, there is an increase in accidents. I say put limiters on everything - the cars all can be reprogramed to do so.
 

garman351

Expert Expediter
(Very stupid idea)
The biggest joke their is was making drivers drive ten hours,instead of taking a break after five hours. Fatigue and lack of sleep is the real problem here.
Garman351
 

EASYTRADER

Expert Expediter
Limit Truck Speed:

Hell YEAH. I have driven big trucks and straight trucks I have seen plenty of accidents out there on the road. All of the accidents I have witnessed have been the fault of the driver.

I once saw four semis smacked into each on the forty with the lead semi drove up on top of a four wheeler.

I think all road vehicles should have speed limiters on them. As well as "Anti-Tailgaiting" radars, which slow a vehicle and keep it from tailing.
 
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