January 26, 2007, Grain Valley, MO – The mere fact that two federal agencies are even considering petitions requesting mandatory speed limiters on trucks is a clear indication that federal agencies are all-too willing to appease big business. That is the view expressed by the country’s largest organization representing small-business truckers.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) says the announcement today that the Department of Transportation will consider requiring speed limiters on large trucks is “just one more example of how big business controls the national agenda to the detriment of many.”

Petitions requesting the government to require speed limiters be set at 68 mph and not tampered with are being considered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

NHTSA and FMCSA are requesting comments on petitions for rulemaking from the American Trucking Association (ATA), Road Safe America and a group of nine motor carriers. The petitions request devices that would limit the speed of certain trucks and prohibit owners and operators from adjusting the speed-limiting devices as a safety measure.

“Since very few highway accidents involving trucks take place at speeds greater than 68 mph, you don’t have to be a highway safety expert to conclude a singular focus on truck speed could hardly produce a safety breakthrough,” said OOIDA Executive Vice President Todd Spencer. “But, that’s not how it works in Washington, DC, where perception is spun to be reality.”

OOIDA points out that support for speed limiters by a handful of large trucking companies and their association under the guise of safety is nothing more than a public relations smokescreen.

“The big companies want government approval to run longer and heavier trucks all over the country. The speed limiter proposal is like putting lipstick on that idea,” Spencer said.

OOIDA points to the fact that nothing stops any of these trucking companies from setting speed limiters on their trucks at any speed they choose.

 “In fact,” Spencer pointed out, “many large companies already speed limit their trucks but they don’t ‘crow’ about their safety records because they’re nothing to brag about.

“They want a government mandate to do it, however, because they know their drivers, whom they pay only for miles driven, would move to another company with a less restrictive speed policy. And they want to deny shippers the option of choosing trucking companies that place a higher priority on on-time service.”

The consideration is even more misguided and outrageous when you really examine the safety data, OOIDA contends.

“There is nothing desirable about turning trucks into rolling roadblocks and obstacles for other drivers,” Spencer said. “Slower isn’t safer. Every year, NHTSA accident data shows that cars are far more likely to run into the backs of trucks than the other way around. Real highway safety experts have always known that highways are safest when all vehicles travel at the same speed.”

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) is the national trade association representing the interests of small business trucking professionals and professional truck drivers.  Small business truckers (companies operating six or fewer trucks) comprise close to 90% of the motor carrier industry. OOIDA represents more trucking companies and more truck drivers than any other association in that industry.  The Association currently has over 148,000 members from all 50 states and Canada.>