What’s next for truck speed limiters?

LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — We have an update on a story 28/22 News first told you about in February[ about placing mandated speed limiting devices on commercial vehicles such as 18-wheelers.

After months of waiting on the possibility of using big rig speed limiter devices, there is still no decision. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or FMCSA for short, has decided to postpone the matter until next year.

The executive vice president of the owner-operator Independent Drivers Association says this will hurt the bottom line of those who own and drive big rigs if it is passed.

“Being able to run the speed limit and get loads delivered on time gives them somewhat of a competitive advantage over some big bigger fleets that use speed limit as a driver management tour fuel management tool,” stated Lewie Pugh the executive vice president of OOIDA.

One owner-operator 28/22 News spoke with says he would not mind the speed limiters if they don’t drop the speed below 70.

“But not 65, 62 nothing less than 70 because that speed that five miles per hour makes a lot of difference to a truck driver,” says Chris Ndirago an owner-operator.

Pugh says this will also increase the risk of truck-involved accidents.

“When you slow cars down or trucks down say I think it’s every ten miles per hour difference you create an extra 200 and some percent of interactions between cars and trucks meaning they have to pass each other that many more times so you know interactions is where you have accidents,” explained Pugh.

Another concern of owner-operators is that they will lose money because they will not be able to take as many loads per week.

“This county depends on transportation largely so if you reduce the effectiveness of transportation you’re reducing the effectiveness of the supply chain,” said Ndirago.

Pugh says that the speed limits in place are already enough because everyone gets fined when they are caught breaking the speed limit. For truckers, they also face the risk of losing their license.

“There is already a system and something out there. It’s worked for over 100 years. Why are we trying to pick on one group of highway users again these things are so great put them on everything,” added Pugh.

Pugh was also a truck driver himself for more than 20 years.

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