As it turns out, there are regulators on the federal level that are proposing to set a truck speed limit for the whole industry. And the FMCSA is sanctioning this. The speed limiting is going to accomplish these hopes with an electronic engine device in a proposition to look forward to in 2023. Just yesterday, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration or the FMCSA made it known through a notice of intent to handle comments. Not just any comments. Comments that pertain to the agency informing the supplementary notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) to include a proposal that would amend the regulations whilst setting a speed limit.
The FMCSA has a heavy deal to say in this notice. Including the following.
“The SNPRM will propose that motor carriers operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 11,794 kilograms or more (26,001 pounds or more), whichever is greater, that are equipped with an electronic engine control unit (ECU) capable of governing the maximum speed be required to limit the CMV to a speed to be determined by the rulemaking and to maintain that ECU setting for the service life of the vehicle.”
Certainly the FMCSA proposes how commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce has gross weights of 26,001 pounds and beyond to be equipped with electronic engine control units (ECUs) in order to limit the trucks “to a speed to be determined by the rulemaking and to maintain that ECU setting for the service life of the vehicle.”
Of course, this has been a long-time coming. Just ask the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Speed has long been a fatal factor in highway deaths. The usage of speed management is meant to reduce the rate of injuries and fatalities. Shortly before this was known in January, the National Transportation Safety Board put speed limiters on it’s wish list in 2021.
Additionally, the FMCSA seems to agree, being that they’re totally appalled by the idea of speed being the leading cause of deaths by commercial motor vehicles.
“A carrier-based approach could provide the opportunity to compel fleets that are not currently using speed limiters to slow down their CMVs within a relatively short period.”
Furthermore, it’s with the approach of using ECUs that the FMCSA is confident in the likelihood of truckers being less tempted to speed and more encouraged to slow down. Mind their manners. Really keep their eyes on the speedometer. By indicating when enough is enough, safer speeds during times of crisis could possibly become the new normal on the asphalt.