ARLINGTON, VA – The American Trucking Associations (ATA) says it continues to hold a “pro-safety policy” regarding speed limiters, but it is raising concerns about a proposal to mandate the technology in the U.S.

“Despite ATA’s decade-old, pro-safety policy on speed, the new joint rulemaking from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Federal Motor Carrier Administration proposes a menu of three speed options for commercial trucks, not one,” said Chris Spear, ATA president and CEO. “It provides insufficient data, and fails to make a recommendation regarding which of the three proposed speeds it believes is best and why. “

In particular, the lobby group is concerned that the proposal doesn’t address differences between the three proposed speed limits and state-specific speed laws, which would allow passenger vehicles to travel faster than trucks. 

“A mandate for a one-size-fits-all speed limiter will squelch innovation in technologies to enhance safety and accommodate not only highways, but potentially secondary roads and beyond,” he added, noting that ATA is preparing formal comments “fully illustrating” the rulemaking’s flaws.