The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) wants provinces to mandate that speed limiters on heavy trucks traveling in Canada be set at no more than 105 km/h, or 65 mph. This announcement follows a request by the American Trucking Assns. last February that OEMs set speed governors at 68 mph.
CTA said it wants such a law to apply to U.S.-based trucks traveling in Canada, as well as Canadian trucks.
The trade group estimates that speed limiting trucks would save the typical fleet 10,500 liters (about 2,800 gallons) of fuel annually per tractor-trailer, reduce the severity of truck-auto crashes, improve lane discipline and reduce tailgating, and improve the environment.
“We want to eliminate speeding altogether,” said David Bradley, CEO of CTA. “The environmental and safety benefits are simply too significant to ignore.”
In a statement in February, ATA concurs that speed limiting commercial trucks will have a positive impact on highway safety. ATA added that its endorsement follows a study that concluded about 75% of its membership already had speed governors, with most set to 70 mph or lower.
The Owner-Operator Independent Driver Assn. has maintained its opposition to a speed limiter rule, warning that it would be detrimental to highway safety by increasing right lane convoys and tailgating.
