Congress Works to Prevent Speed Limiters in Trucks
In the last few weeks, Congress revisited a bill that aims to block the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) from imposing speed limiters on trucks operating within the United States. Although the bill did not make significant progress in earlier sessions, it resurfaced in the most recent round of legislative discussions. Known as the Deregulating Restrictions on Interstate Vehicles and Eighteen-Wheelers Act (DRIVE), the bill was reintroduced by Representative Josh Brecheen from Oklahoma. Brecheen has been a strong proponent of the bill since it was first introduced, particularly in response to regulations affecting the trucking industry.
Since its first introduction, the bill has seen many revisions.
It was first introduced during President Trump’s first administration but was quickly sidelined. However, it was brought back into focus in 2023, under President Biden’s administration, when Brecheen became vocal in his opposition to the truck regulations enacted under Biden's leadership. At the time, the regulations focused on limiting the speed of heavy-duty trucks to 60 miles per hour, a move that Brecheen and others in the industry strongly opposed.
The discussion of speed limiters is a hot topic in the trucking industry.
On one side, organizations like the American Trucking Associations (ATA) argue that speed limiters are a necessary safety measure. They believe limiting the speed of heavy-duty trucks will reduce accidents and improve road safety. However, many individual truck drivers and small business owners, particularly those aligned with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), oppose such mandates. Todd Spencer, president of OOIDA, has been a vocal critic, claiming that speed limiters would actually increase the frequency of collisions. Spencer argued that vehicles with speed limiters would create a dangerous environment on the road, describing highways as “an obstacle course” for passenger vehicles when they have to navigate around slow-moving trucks.
Critics of speed limiters argue that enforcing a universal speed limit for trucks, regardless of traffic conditions, would be inefficient and potentially hazardous. They contend that trucks forced to drive slower than the flow of traffic could cause dangerous situations, especially when smaller vehicles attempt to pass them. Many of these critics view the speed limiter as an "arbitrary one-size-fits-all" solution that ignores the complexities of real-world driving conditions, where varying speeds and traffic flows demand more flexible approaches.
It is unclear what the future of thae DRIVE Act will be after this round of discussion.
Historically, the bill has faced significant opposition and has been sidelined in past legislative sessions, meaning there is a possibility it could be disregarded once again. However, there is also a chance that with the current political climate and the ongoing push for deregulation, this bill could gain more traction and have a better chance of passing.
If the DRIVE Act does pass, it could mark a major shift in the regulation of the trucking industry, providing more freedom for owner-operators and small businesses. Conversely, if it fails to gain support, the debate over speed limiters will likely continue, and they could remain a contentious issue within the industry for years to come.