On Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) introduced legislation that would ban the use of speed limiting devices on commercial motor vehicles.
The legislation, the “Deregulating restrictions on Interstate Vehicles and Eighteen-Wheelers” (DRIVE) Act, would prevent the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) from implementing rules or regulations that require large commercial motor vehicles engaged in interstate commerce to be equipped with speed limiting devices set to a maximum speed. Daines’ office said studies indicate speed limiting devices on CMVs increase congestion, create dangerous speed differentials and make roads less safe leading to higher crash rates.
“Montana truckers play an essential role in the Treasure State’s economy and ensuring they stay safe on the job is one of my top priorities,” Daines said. “Overreaching, out-of-touch D.C. mandates oftentimes make truckers’ jobs harder and can even put their lives at risk—I’ll keep fighting for Montana truckers and against big government.”
The legislation is supported by the Montana Trucking Association, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Association of Small Trucking Companies, the Livestock Marketing Association, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), the Western States Trucking Association, and the Towing and Recovery Association of America.
“The Montana Trucking Association would like to thank Senator Steve Daines for leading the efforts to inhibit FMCSA from implementing a requirement that trucks over 26,000 pounds have speed limiters,” Duane Williams, CEO of the Montana Trucking Association, said. “In rural states like Montana, a truck speed limiter will create additional speed differences between trucks and cars, which does not enhance the safety of our highways. Trucks should not be treated differently than cars by governing their speed.”
Daines’ legislation is co-sponsored by U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-SD), Mike Lee (R-UT), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Mike Rounds (R-SD), and Kevin Cramer (R-ND).