Enforcement teams toss speed limiter inspection tool

by James Menzies

Ontario and Quebec require trucks to be equipped with speed limiters, but enforcement teams have stopped using one of the tools meant to spot offenders. Did it lead to unwarranted charges? (File photo)

TORONTO, Ont. — Commercial vehicle enforcement agencies in Ontario and Quebec have abandoned the use of the EzTap device to enforce speed limiter laws in both provinces, raising questions about how much enforcement of the rule actually exists.

Since 2008, most trucks operating in Ontario and Quebec have been required to have their maximum road speed mechanically limited to 105 km/h. Initially, enforcement used an aftermarket plug-in device called the EzTap3, to read from the electronic control module whether or not the speed limiter was set.

In late 2019, Burness Paralegal Services, based out of Thamesford, Ont., prepared to challenge the reliability of the device on behalf of a U.S. fleet that was charged with non-compliance of the speed limiter rule in April 2018. The truck – a 2014 Freightliner with Detroit Diesel engine – was examined at the Sarnia inspection facility and found to have its speed limiter set to 116 km/h.

Jodi Burness, president of Burness Paralegal Services, had voiced concerns about the reliability of the EzTap device as far back as 2014. When the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) began appealing convictions against operators of Cummins engines of certain model years, her curiosity was heightened.

Burness enlisted an expert witness, Don Laverdure, who produced a five-page report raising many questions about the reliability of the device. Laverdure, a certified truck and coach technician and diagnostic software programmer, noted in his report that determining the maximum road speed is not as simple as reading a single parameter.

“Different manufacturers have different methods of limiting speed and use as many as 15 parameters to limit maximum road speed under different conditions,” Laverdure wrote. He pointed out engine manufacturers are also inconsistent in the naming of the required setting. For example, the Cummins parameter is referred to as the Accelerator Maximum Vehicle Speed, while Detroit Diesel calls it the Max Road Speed.

“I am of the opinion that it is not possible to determine the maximum vehicle speed as required by the regulation or the [Ontario] Highway Traffic Act through only one or two parameters in most cases,” he wrote. Driver reward schemed that give fuel-efficient drivers more throttle speed under selected conditions were also seen as a source of confusion.

Laverdure also found the EzTap to be “highly susceptible to interference from other radio signals such as those derived from CB transceivers, cell phones, cordless telephones, sun spots, and wireless WiFi routers.”

Known issues with adapters

He also discovered an online technical note from Cummins that referenced known issues regarding the EzTap and other datalink adapters.

“Don Laverdure came up with 20 different reasons as to why this device wasn’t reliable,” Burness told Today’s Trucking. “That’s the key word: reliability. If you’re going to go into a courtroom as a prosecuting entity and expect to get a conviction, you have to ensure that device is reliable and accurate.”

Not to be outdone, the MTO commissioned HRYCAY Consulting Engineers to produce a report looking to discredit Laverdure’s findings. Produced on March 26, 2019, the report highlighted speed limiter readings taken by the engineering firm at weigh stations in Sarnia and Windsor over the course of several days.

“The tractors were first imaged by MTO officers using the MTO tool following their standard procedure,” the report read. “Directly after the MTO imaging, we imaged the tractors using the engine manufacturer’s software package with the engine manufacturer’s recommended Nexiq communication interface.”

While there were some small conversion and rounding issues when converting from miles per hour to kilometers per hour, the test found that “all of the values are consistent with one another when rounded to the nearest whole number.”

The report concluded: “The MTO tool was able to properly obtain the correct maximum vehicle speed setting from every Freightliner tractor which was imaged. Based on the testing performed to date, the MTO speed limiter imaging tool is suitable and accurate for the purposes of obtaining the applicable speed limiter data for Freightliner tractors with Detroit Diesel engines.”

Burness was informed the morning of the trial, Oct. 29, that charges against the U.S. fleet would be dropped. The trial would not proceed.

“[Their] expert was ready to go. He was there — that’s how prepared they were – when I received an email saying they’re not proceeding anymore,” Burness said.

While the MTO didn’t indicate why it was giving up the fight, Burness said it was likely an economic decision since most jurisdictions had already phased out the use of the EzTap.

The MTO confirmed to Today’s Trucking that it has now completely abandoned use of the EzTap device for speed limiter enforcement in Ontario.

“MTO officers are no longer using the EzTap devices to enforce speed limiter legislation,” MTO spokesman Bob Nichols wrote in an email to Today’s Trucking. He said there were several reasons behind the decision, including its inability to identify speed limiter evasion techniques, and the fact it was not designed to read engine software after a certain date.

“It’s a rule with no teeth.” – Mike Millian, Private Motor Truck Council of Canada

Marie-Josee Michaud, public relations agent for Control Routier Quebec, also confirmed “The EzTap device is not used anymore by Control Routier Quebec. We only have the laser radar and the speedometer of the patrol vehicle.”

Nichols said the MTO decided LIDAR (light imaging detection and ranging) was a better approach. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and other municipal police services are also able to enforce the speed limiter regulation using that technology.

But while the Highway Traffic Act requires most commercial trucks to have their speed limiters set to 105 km/h or below, using LIDAR, charges are applicable only to those vehicles traveling at speeds of 115 km/h or greater, the MTO confirmed.

Mike Millian, president of the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada (PMTC), said the EzTap device was not frequently used to begin with, and that speed limiter enforcement is “lax and infrequent.”

“It is a rule with no teeth,” he said. “Only compliant carriers who want to follow the rule are, and those who do not wish to govern their trucks at the required 105 km/h just don’t bother and have little to no fear of getting caught.”

While enforcement of the speed limiter law may be lax, the MTO says it has stepped up its targeting of speeding by heavy trucks. In September 2018, a pilot was launched allowing the MTO to use LIDAR to enforce truck speeds.

“Since the start of the pilot, MTO officers have laid approximately 1,600 speeding charges,” Nichols said, adding that figure includes speed limiter charges laid when the truck exceeded 115 km/h.

Ontario Trucking Association support

The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA), which actively lobbied for the speed limiter legislation as far back as 2005, said it’s continuing to work with the MTO to improve speed enforcement techniques.

“The historic leading cause of commercial vehicle collisions, when the commercial vehicle operator is at fault, is driving too fast or too fast for conditions,” said OTA president Stephen Laskowski. “OTA will be addressing the issue of commercial speed enforcement and speed limiter enforcement under various [government] working groups.”

The province of Ontario recently announced plans to verify compliance with emissions aftertreatment requirements when heavy trucks undergo their annual inspections, and Laskowski hinted a similar approach could be applied to check for compliance with speed limiter regulations.

“This same process could identify new technology and test to confirm the proper activation of speed limiters,” he suggested. “OTA and the Ontario enforcement community have and are working on solutions to ensure better compliance for commercial operators with regards to highway speeds and the speed limiter rule.”

As for Burness, the decision to drop the EzTap was a win for the industry.

“They have completely abandoned the use of EzTap, and in my view it’s a victory,” she said. “But I beat myself up a little bit, because I feel like so many more trials happened that didn’t need to happen.”

Questions over the reliability of the EzTap may leave a sour taste in the mouths of truckers who’ve been charged and convicted using the device. Burness said they can file for an appeal citing fresh evidence, but that it’s an ordeal that few of them would likely pursue.

Who needs to comply?

Commercial trucks with a GVWR of more than 11,794 kg (26,000 lb.) operating in Ontario and Quebec must have their engine’s speed limiter parameter set to a maximum speed of 105 km/h.

The rule applies to trucks built after Dec. 31, 1994, and equipped with electronic engine controls.

In Quebec, fines for non-compliance range from $350 to $1,050. In Ontario, the fine is $310.

The requirement applies to trucks operating in Ontario, regardless of where they’re domiciled. The U.S. American Trucking Associations has also been pushing for the mandatory use of speed limiters south of the border, but no such legislation has been passed.

 

 


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  • Having all trucks governed the same has made for (likely unforeseen) very unsafe conditions in the way of drivers often taking way too long jockeying for the ability to pass another truck due to variations of power, loads, wind, etc, causing unnecessary frustration and revenge tactics by short tempered car & pickup truck drivers often resulting in close calls and accidents. I drove long haul for 30+ years without such limitations, was able to accelerate, overtake, & pass another truck and resume my proper speed and NOT cause a traffic backup or any of the current frustrations happening on the highways now. If there’s an issue of speeding in a commercial (or any other vehicle, for that matter) its a job for speed enforcement authorities to deal with, while NOT penalising the rest of the truckers in the process. IS THERE NOT ANYONE WHOSE HAD ACTUAL OTR EXPERIENCE INVOLVED IN THE MAKING OF SUCH REGULATIONS?????, IF SO, THEN WHY NOT? GET EXPERIENCED DRIVERS TO MAKE SUCH RULES, AND NOT A NUCLEUS OF COMPUTER SCREEN DESK JOCKEYS WHO’VE NEVER BEEN BEHIND THE WHEEL!!!

    • I agree! Speed limiters also often result in large clumps of commercial drivers in winter weather creating the potential for a domino effect should calamity befall one or more vehicles in the congestion. This law is long overdue for some kind of moderation.

    • It was the various trucking associations in Ontario that called for this legislation. It was in part due to save fuel costs and insurance premiums.

  • Speed limiters do not work. They only work on company units forced to use them. They make driving more dangerous and back up traffic on major roads when trying to pass. Make ALL vehickes have limiters. Why should a school bus carrying kids be allowed to go over 120kmh? Make it harder to get a teucking liscence then things will change. Make it manditory to drive a standard unit also. Automoatic made it too easy for non drivers to get behind the wheel.

  • I’ve stated this before and I will say it again speed limiter is about the OTA being in the news! Do trucking companies that run New York, Michigan, Ohio and many other US states require a speed limiter No way cause they have aggressive police enforcement. If it was about safety why 105 KPH last time I checked the legal limit is 100? How come no CVOR points are assigned to the guilty trucking company for not having Working Speed Limiter? Cause we all know it’s a $ grab and we’re lacking enforcement here in Ontario not speeding trucks end of story

    • If your doing the speed limit of 100 kph, you would have 5 kph left to get out and pass a slower vehicle, I beleive that was the reasoning of the 105 limit. The problem is because drivers aren’t paid by the hour, they’re all going as fast as the truck will go, to get the most miles per hour. Government needs to mandate that all drivers be paid hourly, plus overtime, for all their time, not just driving time. Then the carnage on the hiways will stop and the driver shortage will vanish.

      • Hourly pay isn’t the answer. It allows companies to push you to use more hours, telling you that your pay will be higher for it, and some drivers will work more and drive faster in hopes of a raise. I’ve been hourly otr and it sucks.

  • 41 years trucking, 6 years studying under the CITT, and in regards to speed limiters, they only cause inability to pass when safety allows, causing a very unsafe situation when the vehicle being passed regains the 105 klm hour set limit in his / her driven truck after a road speed reducing pull. Tire wear, new tires all play a factor. One klm hr up or down from the 105 limit, causing other trucks to want to pass the slower truck. Time to do so is extended which causes auto drivers ( behind the passing truck) to become irate , and aggressive behavior of that driver(s) results.

  • Burness Paralegal is the best thing to happen to trucking since the diesel engine!!
    Driver, Don’t leave home without their phone number in your phone.

  • I agree make it Mandatory to drive a Manual Tractor 10 speed or higher. for minimum 3 years! Unless you have a Physical disability an can not. Not a mental disability. Or lack of skill. This will Definitely cut back on collisions an also help them drivers be less bored an they will have to pay more attention to speed shifting weight an how they actually work together.Rather then drive with foot on dash or on the bar by the drivers door watching there smart device or laptops. That I see regularly on the 400 series in Ontario. An also on the 30 & 20 in Qubec.

  • I did the trail often from Calgary highway max 110kph and Manitoba I believe 100 kph than come Ontario with their stupidity of 90 kph on highway 17 or 11 so driving 99 kph is tolerate and you need a lot of patience and your driving time is disappearing fast.
    Summer time forget it the one going to fast are the new drivers from other country and they don’t care they don’t speak the language go figure.

  • 1st off i see alot of trucks with ont/pq plates doin well over 105 for yrs so that means its bs when companys dont set them or enforcement is not out there…You can runnthe entire length of ontarios 401 and only see maybe a half dozen opp and 99.9% not see any dot police..
    The passing thing yes its a pain but i have to question why do they run 105 and try to pass everything in site knowing they are loaded heavy and end up in the hammer lane holding up traffic…I laugh when i drive 100kph and a truck catches me then decides to pass but gets hung up for kms…Funnier is that they get mad at me and offer all kinds of gestures cause they are mad that i dont slow to let them pass..Im not a fan of the limiters at all but i have learned how to use what i have and not have my foot to the floor all the time..Drivers need to be smarter and not faster with or without limiters..
    Someone mentioned about school buses doin 120kph with kids well i get passed by the greyhound type busses loaded with passengers like im standing still…Schedule or not why are they able to do what commerical trucks are not allowed to do yet their cargo has a lil more value that what the 18 wheeler careies..It all comes down to a cpl things..Power and $…
    If your gonna slow one,slow them all..If no more limitors then have more dot/opp presence with stiffer fines..I think limiters were doin the jobs of opp/dot and a cash grab for someone..

    • a lot of we “professional drivers” will back off a few km/h to allow the passing truck to get past. Seems the lesser of two evils

      • That’s the thing just let your foot off the pedal for 5 seconds let the vehicle go by resume your speed the vehicle caught up to you so it is traveling faster no need to race it a little common sense goes a long ways people!!!

  • The whole Speed limiter law was a political haymaker. Any sensible company limited their speeds for insurance and economy purposes anyways, usually 107 or 108.
    30 years ago drivers had the brains to slow down when conditions warranted. I’m not so sure anymore.
    A truck doing 80km/h will still kill people when it piles into stopped traffic with the cruise on, foot on the Volvo dash, and a cell phone in each ear.

  • Non-white immigrant here. Got laid off from an I.T job and started trucking. I mostly drive in States. I drive in Ontario for about 4 hours just to cross Detroit border. 65mph limiter is for safety? Why only truck drivers are being picked on? This is discrimination against all truckers. Go to any court any day you’d see 90% guys there for impaired driving charge. Many impaired drivers killed innocent people. Much more dangerous than truck drivers so why not ban alcohol completely? It’s fair to ban alcohol if you want to put limiter on trucks? More 4 wheelers are overspeeding, stunt driving, and causing accidents so why not put limiters on all 4 wheelers? That’s the only problem I have with this law. I feel that it’s discriminatory. Also stop releasing dangerous violent repeat offenders that’s also a safety concern. That psycho man from Smithfield, Ontario who was sexual predator and attacked the family after being released from prison? If it’s about safety then why only truckers are being picked on? Anyways being an immigrant I’m glad to be here and have learnt to never complaint but it’s a really stupid law. I go to Wyoming, Nebraska, Texas and everyone driving at 75mph while I’m driving at 65 and making everyone upset at me. Retarded Canadians

  • In Europe, the mandatory fittment of 56 mph speed limiters has saved thousands of lives annually.

  • This is good news!! I have not been to Ontario or Quebec sense the speed limiter law came out because it is unsafe!! It’s been proven by ooida that it’s unsafe but mto and the trucking association only care about money and there big carrier buddies that line there pockets!! That’s why it’s not in the state’s or western Canada!! Its unsafe competition killing law!!

  • Hi, I just wanna know that I worked in a truck company in Ontario. They have all the trucks from Saskatchewan but their branch is in Brampton Ontario. There all trucks have no activated speed limiter in Ontario. They can run up to 70mph . Is it a offence in Ontario. If so how can I file a complaint

    • Yes it is an offense in Ontario, report them to the MTO, but it will probably be a waste of time. I regularly report speed limiter offenders to the MTO but they do nothing.

  • I personally feel like going after tailgaters would be way more effective at reducing accidents. Most people do it, most people can’t control it because if you leave the space you’re supposed to leave then 2 or 3 cars will pull into that space and effectively remove the reaction time you’ve given yourself. Now you’re following at a second or less and when something happens in front of you, unless you are instantly on it, paying super attention to the road, which most people aren’t, you’re going to crash because you didn’t have enough time not to. If you’re lucky enough to avoid a wreck at that distance, it’s going to be a really close call. I like living so I try my hardest to maintain a safe following distance, about every close call I’ve had was when I couldn’t maintain that due to traffic, or when someone not paying attention pulls onto the road right in front of me.