Long story short, it doesn’t officially mean anything yet. At least not until mid-2023 most likely.

What’s Happening with the Speed Limiter Regulation?

The FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) has recently re-rolled out plans to pose impending speed limiter regulations – and there are mixed reviews from industry experts and long-time drivers alike. According to the National Roadway Safety Strategy, speed is one of the top contributors to fatal crashes on the roadway, and the best way to mitigate further deaths or serious injuries is to implement speed management tools.

With driver and public safety as a constant forefront issue for the FMCSA, this outlined supplemental regulation should not come as a surprise at all. The original September 2016 proposal never actually made a finalized regulation, and there was never a solidified maximum speed put in place. The agency is now considering the enforcement of mandated speed limiters on trucks weighing in at more than 26,001 pounds with ECUs (electronic control units) that are able to to be governed – or fluctuate speed as desired. Even with the aforementioned 2016 proposal, nothing has been decided on. However, some suggest that 65 – 68 mph, and even as low as 60 mph, have been discussed at length in regards to the speed limiter regulation. And those in the industry bring up relevant points regarding opposition to the limit.

Backlash Over the Impending FMCSA Regulations

Some of the top feedback heard from truckers revolved around concerns of:

  • Road rage due to other impatient drivers and the lower speeds – highlighting the need for being able to maintain speed with local traffic flows.
  • Increased traffic if the limiter is set to a lower 60s speed, as many areas have posted limits of 70 mph. This additionally poses some safety concerns for many drivers in the trucking industry.
  • Inevitable strain on the trucking system’s efficiency – and therefore impact an overwhelming number of other industries. Restricting speeds will slow down transportation times of goods and other products, thus creating even more of a strain on an already troubled industry.

Meanwhile others pointed the finger at standard passenger vehicles and their need for tighter regulations versus commercial trucking.

As many are turning heads and rolling eyes at the suggestion of a limitation, it is important to note that the FMCSA is not currently solidifying anything. We have to stay tuned.

If you would like to read up on the entire proposal, the Notice of Intent (NOI) on the speed limiter regulation can be found here along with additional details.

When Can the FMCSA Speed Limiter Regulations Be Expected?

While there is no date set in stone yet as to when the limit may take effect, the date of June 30, 2023 was recently mentioned as a targeted supplemental implementation of the Heavy Vehicle Speed Limiters. Still to be ironed out would include the updated regulations that CMV manufacturers would be required to comply with moving forward.

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