• Truck stability control mandate clears White House review

    A rulemaking to set a new federal standard that would require stability control systems on trucks and buses moved a step closer to completion last week.
    May 26, 2015
    2 min read
    Image

    A rulemaking to set a new federal standard that would require stability control systems on trucks and buses moved a step closer to completion last week.

    The White Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which received the final rule in February, completed its review May 21 and returned the rule to the Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, according to the latest OMB regulatory update.

    The rule, titled Electronic Stability Control Systems for Heavy Vehicles, is in response to a requirement in MAP-21, the current highway authorization package.

    Rollover and loss of control crashes involving heavy vehicles are responsible for 304 fatalities and 2,738 injuries annually, according to the rule summary. NHTSA’s preliminary effectiveness estimate determined 29 to 66 lives would be saved, 517 to 979 injuries would be reduced, and 810 to 1,693 crashes that involved property damage only would be eliminated by requiring ESC systems on heavy trucks.

    Based on the technology unit costs and affected vehicles, NHTSA estimates technology costs would be $55-107 million, annually. However, the costs savings from reducing travel delay and property damage would produce net benefits of $128-372 million.

    DOT’s most recent projection has the rule scheduled to be published June 8, but that was based on a date of June 4 for OMB clearance. The rulemaking was initiated in 2011.

    About the Author

    Kevin Jones 1

    Editor

    Kevin has served as editor-in-chief of Trailer/Body Builders magazine since 2017—just the third editor in the magazine’s 60 years. He is also editorial director for Endeavor Business Media’s Commercial Vehicle group, which includes FleetOwner, Bulk Transporter, Refrigerated Transporter, American Trucker, and Fleet Maintenance magazines and websites.

    Voice your opinion!

    To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!

    Sign up for our free eNewsletters

    Latest from Regulations

    PBS News
    Trump speaks before signing resolutions
    Trump signed three resolutions to terminate CARB’s waivers for Advanced Clean Trucks, Advanced Clean Cars II, and Heavy-Duty NOx. The resolutions are a major blow to California...
    ID 1069347 © Badboo | Dreamstime.com
    traffic sign without language
    Is ELP enforcement an important safety issue? Take a few seconds to share your thoughts and see what others said.
    FleetOwner/Endeavor Business Media
    trucks_cr_fo
    Stricter enforcement of cabotage laws, carrier leaders said, will help bring supply-demand balance to the market, creating 'a little bit of optimism.'