Government looking to slow down big rigs

[Jersey mike]

The U.S. Department Of Transportation submitted a proposal last week that would require heavy duty vehicles to be outfitted with electronic governors limiting their top speeds in an effort to improve fuel economy and safety, The Verge reports.

If the proposal were passed, it would apply to every "multipurpose passenger vehicle, truck, bus and school bus" weighing more than 26,000 pounds, and would limit those vehicles' top speeds to 60, 65 or 68 MPH—the DOT hasn't decided which yet, as they are awaiting input from the public.


http://jalopnik.com/the-u-s-government-wants-to-electronically-limit-truck-1785821268

Here's another article on it with some other details;

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-wants-force-lower-speeds-truck-bus-drivers-153334569--finance.html

[MP]

Remember the 55 mph limit?  One of the most hated laws ever. 

Leave it the way it is.  States decide.  More liberal intervention.  "Big Gov't knows better than you common peasants."

As a truck driver, it is very unsafe when there are two speeds going down the road.  Safety groups will tell you, when traffic is flowing smoothly and at same speed, it is the safest.  Getting drivers PO'd following slower traffic, changing lanes, speeding up and slowing down, are all safety hazards.

[Gavin_Sons]

They already go slow enough. Ever get caught behind 2, one is trying to pass the other and it goes on for miles because they are going the same speed.    pisses me off because now im going 65 instead of 80. My dad was a trucker for 30 years.

[MP]

They already go slow enough. Ever get caught behind 2, one is trying to pass the other and it goes on for miles because they are going the same speed.    pisses me off because now im going 65 instead of 80. My dad was a trucker for 30 years.

Think how much WORSE it will be, when they all have the same speed programmed into them! Minor tech differences will allow for TENTHS of a mph differences, so instead of being stuck for miles, think of tens of miles to pass!

It is an assinine proposal.

[hukmut]

Just yet another tool for the "government" to control the masses.

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

Just one more way to control us. Then when it causes problems we'll need more rules, laws and regulations to fix the created problems.

[Rams]

Another step down that slippery slope..................

Everything we do and some things we don't involve risk.   Life is a challenge, deal with it.

[Jess from VA]

How about a built in electronic governor to control govt spending and regulations?

Like a balanced budget (to start).

Followed by a 20% reduction in the federal workforce (exclude VA and military).... to start.

[Wizzard]

They already go slow enough. Ever get caught behind 2, one is trying to pass the other and it goes on for miles because they are going the same speed.    pisses me off because now im going 65 instead of 80. My dad was a trucker for 30 years.

AMEN

[fudgie]

They already go slow enough. Ever get caught behind 2, one is trying to pass the other and it goes on for miles because they are going the same speed.    pisses me off because now im going 65 instead of 80. My dad was a trucker for 30 years.

Go to WY or MT and ya wont. Speed limit is 80.

[Robert]

Drove a few trucks with the mechanical limiters what a PIA. But the new designs would be electronic and could be linked to base communications to alert a base or anyone. There would be no defeating them without programing and they would hit a limit and stop, not like the old systems that would fail at 40. They could also synchronize the system with some type of speed limiting for the area rather than a blanket speed limit. The possibilities are endless since the new electronic controls. I personally think with as many restrictions as the truckers have on them and the tickets that are imposed the issue is a waste of time and excess trouble to everyone involved. To use fuel savings as an excuse is a crock since it would be so small it wouldn't count.

[Wizzard]

They already go slow enough. Ever get caught behind 2, one is trying to pass the other and it goes on for miles because they are going the same speed.    pisses me off because now im going 65 instead of 80. My dad was a trucker for 30 years.

Go to WY or MT and ya wont. Speed limit is 80.

Yup,, and then you cross the border into Canada and the cops are sitting there waiting on you because it drops to 55. Ask me how I know. 

[Patrick]

Seems to me that this is a bit short sighted. They are trying to claim it is a safety as well as a fuel issue.

I'm thinking not keeping up with other traffic is a safety issue itself.

As far as fuel, it won't make much of a difference and if these engines were converted to natural gas it wouldn't be an issue. But, of course, we can't drill for that stuff even though we have more than a century worth of it.

I still work on air brakes and find truck brakes lacking. Some of these monsters don't/can't stop. If a truck is behind me I try to keep it way behind me or find a different place to be.

Also, I was involved in rewriting inspection regs about 20 years ago. I'm dead set against a cut/re-grooved tire on a steer axle. In  some states I was over-ruled, they are allowed. I believe the feds still don't allow them, but, some states do. Wanna talk about lobbyists.

[Jersey mike]

this is from the 2nd link I posted;

"Yet there is another compelling reason to limit truck speeds. An investigation last year by The Associated Press found that 14 states have speed limits for big trucks that are equal to or higher than their tires were designed to handle. Most truck tires aren't designed to go faster than 75 mph, and tire manufacturers say traveling faster than that can cause tires to fail and blow out, creating safety issues."

so instead of slowing down the trucks, why not make tire manufacturers design the tires for 90MPH.

these trucks cannot be wallowing down the HWY at 68MPH the line of trucks, especially here in NJ and the N. East will be a rolling parking lot.

[Serk]

One of the biggest contributors to accidents is speed variance (Vehicles traveling at different speeds from each other.)

Do these idiots WANT a higher body count?????

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oqfodY2Lz0

[RDAbull]

One of the biggest contributors to accidents is speed variance (Vehicles traveling at different speeds from each other.)

Do these idiots WANT a higher body count?????

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oqfodY2Lz0

Only if it's us senior citizens so they won't have to pay our social security and Medicare.  oH Ya, we vote too.

[old2soon]

As a retired Driver I've seen our gubmint involved in truckers lives before. Anyone here rekemember the infamous 121 brakes? Two or three different outfits I drove for leading up to my retirement had trucks governed to within 4 or 5 miles an hour of each other. AND was NOT the gubmint-well not directly-anybody said insurance companies gets the dead wabbit award. Far as the tires go there is built in fudge factors. Ran out West in July and August 80-85 M P H hour after hour and Never blew a first line tire. Recaps on the other hand-have scattered More than my share at one time or another. THIS is also the SAME gubmint that is on record as saying 15% alcohol in our gasoline will be okey dokey-no MATTER WHAT the automotive manufactures say.  Just because the gubmint THINKS they know something doesn't mean the actually DO know something. I defy anyone of them making the law to get in a big rig and do 6 honest months under the wheel in ALL traffic and weather situations. I was out there close to 32 years. So you might say I have a bit of knowledge in this particular field. RIDE SAFE.

[Rams]

There will always be truck drivers that speed, no different than bikers, cagers or LEOs.   Putting such limits is simply silly.   I know three acive drivers personally, in every case, they can make bonus if, they save fuel.   They tell me this is not unusual in the industry.   So, what's the point of such devices except to place more controls on society.   Once that's done, cages will be next, then motorcycles.   Mark my words.

[riverrat302]

what a lot of people don't know is there are already settings in the ecm that a dealer or factory can set with the right computer. i use to work for an international truck dealer in PA and we would mess with other mechanics that were going to take the truck they just fixed for a test drive by setting the max speed to alot slower speed.

[Rams]

what a lot of people don't know is there are already settings in the ecm that a dealer or factory can set with the right computer. i use to work for an international truck dealer in PA and we would mess with other mechanics that were going to take the truck they just fixed for a test drive by setting the max speed to alot slower speed.

Most cages have max speeds built in.   I believe my Dodge Ram is set at 107 or 112, can't remember but, the fact is, it has a max speed the ecm will not let the vehicle exceed.   If this crap continues, it will be acceptable to set that factory max at whatever speed they determine to be acceptable and then they'll make it illegal to change it in the computer.  

To carry that thought process further, GM and other's already have the ability to track what the vehicle is doing and where it's doing it at.    How hard will it be for the government to decide once all vehicles have such devices to make it a requirement for two way communications and they can then have access to your activities of where, when and how you commute to where ever and then decide that they'll be able to slow all vehicles anywhere they are.    (Think about how the LA police caught OJ and how much technology has expanded since then.)    Big Brother and Liberals are conspiring against all freedom loving Americans.  

I'm telling you, this is just the first step to having your cage or bike's max speed set for you.   Yeah, I know conspiracy theory.   Watch how this builds and see how long it is before all vehicle have electronic governors and reporting devices.  AS I SAID, MARK MY WORDS.

I really don't speed much.   I'm normally within five +/- the speed limit but, I don't want Uncle Sugar forcing the issue on me.   There are times when I need a little extra power added.   Especially on my bike.  

[..]

Drip, drip, drip...........................

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

One of the biggest contributors to accidents is speed variance (Vehicles traveling at different speeds from each other.)

Do these idiots WANT a higher body count?????

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oqfodY2Lz0

Of course they do. Then we will need more regulation.