An initiative to speed-limit trucks has received additional momentum in Canada when Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Julian Fantino has advocated forcing trucks to limit top speed to 65 mph (105 kph).
Canadian trucking interest groups Ontario Trucking Assn. (OTA) and Canadian Trucking Alliance have led the movement in North America to slow down trucks. Last October, the American Trucking Assns. (ATA) petitioned DOT to require that speed limiters set to 68 mph be installed on new heavy-duty trucks at the factory.
“OTA has been lobbying the government for almost two years now to have the province enact legislation requiring all trucks operating in Ontario to have their engine speed limiters set at no more than [65 mph],” stated OTA president David Bradley, adding that he is “very happy” with the Commissioner’s comments.
“After a year and a half of debate, discussion and study, the time has come for the government to act,” Bradley continued. “I can’t understand why they are so reluctant to bring in something this positive that has so much support.”
OTA estimates that about half of the trucks operating in Ontario have voluntarily been set to speeds ranging from 56 to 68 mph (90 to 110 kph). Last month the American Transportation Research Institute, the research arm of ATA, noted that 69% of its survey respondents said they use speed governors. The ATRI study surveyed a population of truck company leaders believed to be representative of the overall industry.
Read ATRI releases early speed-governor findings.
