OOIDA Call to Action - Michigan Members
November 15, 2005

Heads up, Michigan truckers! An effort in your state's Legislature to reduce the speed gap between cars and large trucks is one step closer to becoming reality. We cannot let up on this push to minimize the speed differential.

Thanks in part to your earlier efforts, HB5104 advanced from the House on a 94-12 vote Nov. 9. It is now in the Senate Transportation Committee.

It is imperative that you, your family members, friends and colleagues contact members of the Transportation Committee and urge support of the bill, which would decrease the speed differential between trucks and other vehicles from 15 mph to 10 mph on highways in the state.

Sponsored by Rep. Bruce Caswell, R-Hillsdale, the bill would allow vehicles with a gross weight of 10,000 pounds or more to travel up to 60 mph.

Todd Spencer, executive vice president for OOIDA, said he is encouraged to see legislation to address safety problems resulting from a large speed gap move forward.

"While we think a uniform speed limit clearly makes the most safety sense for speed limits, the measure now being considered moves us a little closer to that," Spencer said.

Spencer reiterates that it is imperative that Michigan truckers contact Senate Transportation Committee members and let them know the importance of minimizing the speed differential to road safety.

Even if you do not live in the specific district represented by members of the Senate Transportation Committee, your comments still count.

Senate Transportation Committee members' contact information:

Sen. Judson Gilbert II, chair
Phone: (517) 373-7708
E-mail: SenJGilbert@senate.michigan.gov

Sen. Wayne Kuipers, vice chair
Phone: (517) 373-6920
E-mail: SenWKuipers@senate.michigan.gov

Sen. Mike Goschka
Phone: (517) 373-1760
E-mail: SenMGoschka@senate.michigan.gov

Sen. Burton Leland, minority vice chair
Phone: (517) 373-0994
E-mail: SenBLeland@senate.michigan.gov

Sen. Raymond Basham
Phone: (517) 373-7800
E-mail: SenRBasham@senate.michigan.gov