OTTAWA, Ont. — With support building among the provincial trucking associations, the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) has high hopes for a national policy on the mandatory activation of speed limiters on trucks.

While CTA has yet to formally ratify a policy on speed limiters, it has been receiving encouraging news from its federation members. Currently, six of the seven provincial trucking associations have informed CTA that they support a national policy based on the model developed by the Ontario Trucking Association. One association, the Quebec Trucking Association, is in the process of surveying its members, before going to its board for a decision.

According to David Bradley, CEO of the Alliance, it is likely that a national policy on speed limiter activation will be dealt with at the next meeting of the CTA board of directors in April.

“It may happen sooner,” Bradley said, “but we have not heard from everyone yet and there are a few local issues to sort out, so formal ratification in April seems realistic.”

Bradley said he’s not surprised by the support from the provincial trucking associations in light of the potential benefits.

Possible benefits include fuel savings of as much as 10,500 litres per year (an annual savings of about $8,400 per truck), reduced GHG emissions, and improved tire and brake wear.