Editorial: Governing Truck Speeds

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aking our highways safer is in everyone’s interest and is everyone’s job. While virtually all Americans use roadways to get to work and to the store, for the trucking industry highways are also our workplaces.

And while we have had success in recent years in trimming the rate at which people die in truck-related crashes, way too many people are still injured and killed in all kinds of highway crashes, most of which don’t involve trucks.

Growing congestion in more areas seems to be fueling a rise in speeding, with more vehicles driving over the posted limits, and by more miles per hour.

It was in that regard that the board of directors of American Trucking Associations in February adopted a policy to encourage the makers of heavy-duty trucks and engines to limit the top speeds of their products to 68 mph.

As ATA President Bill Graves put it after the board’s action, “There has been a growing sense within the trucking industry for the need to slow down the large truck population, as well as all traffic. With speeding as a factor in one-third of all fatal highway crashes, it makes all the sense in the world to work to reduce this number.”

The Canadian Trucking Alliance, that country’s largest trucking association, has now endorsed legislation to mandate that all trucks of more than 24,250 pounds there have speed governors that would limit them to 105 kilometers per hour, about 65 mph.

Similar legislation may be necessary to implement the 68 mph maximum. But first, ATA will talk with fleets and the truck and engine makers to see if a consensus can be reached on this issue.

Such a consensus may be far off, judging by the number of firmly held opinions that have already been expressed in response to ATA’s proposal.

As Dave Osiecki, ATA’s vice president for safety, security and operations, said last week, “There doesn’t seem to be anybody in between on this one.” And judging from the number of letters that have come to Transport Topics concerning the speed governor issue, he’s quite right.

Which gets us back to the point that we all have a vested interest in improving highway safety. Using seat belts is one step. Improved enforcement is part of the answer. And we believe that preventing trucks from being able to operate at speeds far above any legal limit in any part of North America is also essential.

All of us need to do our part in making our roads safer.

This editorial appears in the March 13 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.