TORONTO — The U.S.-based Truck Renting and Leasing Association (TRALA) says Ontario’s pending legislation to mandate speed limiters on all trucks in the province "could be detrimental to truck renting and leasing companies."

In a letter to Ontario Minister of Transportation Jim Bradley, TRALA said it actually supports speed limiters on new equipment, but the law as its written could be problematic for truck lessors already under a lease agreement for vehicles already in service.

"TRALA is supporting an Ontario mandate that applies only to new trucks not yet in commercial service. Additionally, TRALA is seeking liability protection for lessors that cannot determine which of their out-of-province vehicles will be operated in Ontario."

One solution, says TRALA, would be to limit the provisions of Bill 41 to new trucks based in Ontario.

Meanwhile, TRALA is also busy opposing proposed New Jersey legislation that would mandate speed limiting devices on any commercial truck operating in the state.

In order to "avoid a state-by-state patchwork of varying equipment mandates," TRALA is asking that New Jersey wait until the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has completed its own study and consideration of a federal rulemaking that would create a national standard for speed limiting devices on trucks.

New Jersey Assembly Bill 2415, introduced by Assemblywoman Marcia Karrow (R-Flemington) in March would require a speed limiting device set at 68 miles per hour on every truck operating in the state.

As written, the bill would require the retrofitting of any truck, regardless of its age. For lessors, the proposal could force the installation of devices on every truck in order to insure compliance for vehicles that may travel through New Jersey, says TRALA.