A U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) proposal to enforce speed limiters on all heavy trucks operating in the U.S. — first introduced in 2016 and then again in 2022 – has been removed. The law would’ve limited truck speeds to between 60-68 mph (96-109 km/h).

The official announcement to remove the rule came in July. The proposal received more than 15,000 comments yet only about 300 people endorsed the rule.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, along with other critics, opposed the speed limiter proposal because it believed it would decrease driver wages while raising fuel expenses and possibly create safety risks because of speed differences between commercial trucks and regular vehicles.

The proposed rule failed to demonstrate substantial safety advantages, so FMCSA decided against its implementation. The agency says it made its decision based on insufficient data regarding crash reduction estimates and economic impact analyses and the preference for voluntary speed limiter adoption.

Canada’s speed limiter landscape

Several Canadian provinces impose mandatory speed limiter regulations which apply to heavy commercial vehicles. Heavy trucks exceeding 11,793 kg GVWR must have speed limiters activated in Ontario and Quebec restricting their top speed to 105 km/h (65 mph). British Columbia joined this regulatory cohort in April 2024 when it implemented requirements for vehicles manufactured after 1994 with electronically controlled engines.

The provincial speed limit regulations can be enforced through roadside checks and electronic monitoring systems.

Failure to follow the rules leads to both monetary penalties and point additions to safety profiles and carrier penalties. The rules aim to achieve objectives including crash prevention through reduced speeds and better fuel efficiency as well as lower greenhouse gas production. Heavy truck speed-related collisions decreased by 73% in Ontario after the province introduced its speed limiter mandate, according to officials.

Cross-border challenges for carriers

The difference in regulatory rules between the U.S. and Canada creates operational problems and compliance issues for international transport companies. Vehicles that traverse the border must follow multiple speed limiter regulations based on their journeys.

Here’s how this plays out:

• The U.S. does not have a national speed limiter mandate, yet states have their own regulations;
• The mandatory speed limiter rules in Ontario, Quebec and B.C. apply to commercial motor vehicles weighing more than 11,793 kg and allow a maximum speed of 105 km/h or 65 mph;
• U.S.-based carriers who want to enter Canada need to activate and program speed limiters according to provincial laws. The failure to comply with speed limiter rules may lead to penalties and makes it impossible for carriers to operate lawfully in Canadian territories that do have speed limiter legislation. Canadian carriers that operate in U.S. territories can disable speed limiters to follow state speed limits, but this approach creates operational and driver expectation issues.

Navigating compliance and safety

Carriers need flexible compliance strategies to manage these cross-border complexities. Electronic control units (ECUs) can be programmed to switch between different speed settings according to the jurisdiction.

A training program should teach drivers about speed laws and law enforcement practices that exist in both countries. The company can divide its vehicle fleet between domestic and international routes according to which territories have compatible regulations.

Fleet operators should implement telematics systems to track speed compliance in real-time while enabling remote speed setting adjustments when vehicles move between countries.

The removal of the speed limiter mandate by FMCSA creates more responsibility for carriers to implement safety measures while complying with federal regulations. The mandatory enforcement of speed limiters remains in place for Canadian provinces because they prioritize public safety and environmental benefits from this technology.

Looking ahead

The FMCSA’s decision represents a fundamental disagreement between transportation policymakers about the use of voluntary safety measures versus government-enforced standards. The subject may face re-examination by future administrations because of improved technology and enhanced data collection methods. For now, international carriers need to stay attentive while being flexible and well-informed to run smoothly between borders.