The Canadian Trucking Alliance’s call for mandatory speed limiters to be activated in all trucks is undoubtedly the most controversial issue of the year. Much has been said for and against the issue, but research recently conducted by our Transportation Media Research Group indicates that support or opposition to the proposal may not be as unanimous as claimed. Our survey found that 58% of fleet managers surveyed (this included managers working at for-hire, private, government and lease fleets) favored the mandatory use of speed limiters with 42% opposed. The approval rate was slightly higher (60%) when only for-hire fleet managers were taken into consideration and it was at its highest (81%) among large for-hire fleets (more than 500 HD trucks). Managers at small fleets (5-9 HD vehicles) were 71% against the proposal.

The virtually unanimous opposition to speed limiters by owner/operators claimed by groups representing their interests also appears out of line. While three quarters of our owner/operator respondents opposed the proposal, one quarter backed it.

The question on speed limiters was part of an annual survey on industry issues and buying trends and conducted during May and June of this year. E-mail invitations to participate were sent to 4,294 industry professionals and the survey had a 16.3% response rate.