The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) are asking for public comments on two “separate but similar” petitions for a rulemaking to require speed limiters on trucks over 26,000 lb. GVWR.
Last fall, the American Trucking Assns. (ATA) asked NHTSA to require that OEMs install devices on these vehicles that would prevent them from going more than 68 mph. The group also petitioned FMCSA to initiate a rulemaking to prohibit operators from adjusting the devices so that vehicles could go over the 68 mph limit.
In a separate petition, Road Safe America, a public safety group, and nine motor carriers asked FMCSA to mandate electronic speed governors, set at a maximum of 68 mph, on all trucks over 26,000 lb. and manufactured after 1990.
In a notice published in the Federal Register January 26, DOT said that the agencies will work together to review the petitions and that the NHTSA Administrator will decide whether or not to initiate a rulemaking process.
To file a comment, go to http://dms.dot.gov and click on “Help & Information.” Comments are due by March 27, 2007. Refer to Docket NO. NHTSA-2007-26851.
ATA's American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) is also collecting information on speed limiters. The group is asking motor carriers with experience using speed governors to participate in a survey to determine how the devices affect highway safety. Specifically, the survey will analyze how speed differentials that may exist between cars and trucks on the road impact safety.
To participate, go to http://truckline.com/SpeedGovernorSurvey.
ATRI is the not-for-profit research arm of ATA.
