Jan. 6, 2006, Grain Valley, MO-The Owner-Operator Independent Driver's Association (OOIDA) and The Owner-Operator's Business Association of Canada (OBAC) have filed comments opposing mandated "speed limiters" on trucks operating in the Canadian Province of Ontario.

The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) has asked the Ministry of Transportation to amend existing laws to require speed limiters, commonly known as "governors," on commercial trucks manufactured after 1995 operating in Ontario.

OTA would require the speed limiters to be programmed to restrict vehicles to a maximum speed of 105 km/h (65mph).

OOIDA - with more than 133,000 members in the U.S. and Canada - has joined OBAC in opposing the proposed mandate because of the implication the proposal was headed for broad application.

"They're not just wanting this for Ontario, they're wanting this for all of North America, including the U.S.," said OOIDA President and CEO Jim Johnston. "The proposed speed limiters will have a significant impact on the day-to-day operations of professional drivers, as well as the safety of all highway users." Joanne Ritchie, OBAC's executive director, agrees.

"When you have cars going faster than trucks that in fact creates unsafe conditions," Ritchie says. "When you get trucks in the left lane or right lane going slower, it creates all kinds of problems with cars weaving around them, trying to get on and off the interstates."

Because studies show it is undisputed that light vehicle drivers are the primary speeders on Canada's highways, it is simply not logical to require speed limiters for truckers who are less likely to speed and create related safety hazards, but not on light vehicle drivers. Nor does it make sense to burden the vast majority of truck drivers, who have been found to travel the speed limit in most cases, to restrict the isolated violators.

OOIDA and OBAC agree with OTA that excessive speeding is a legitimate subject of concern: it is dangerous, illegal, and tends to result in more severe accidents. However, highway safety engineers have long recognized that highways are safest when all vehicles are traveling at the same speed regardless of the speed limit.

"Many of OTA's member motor carriers have adopted speed-limiter technology as the method of limiting the speeds traveled by their fleets of trucks, a decision that has apparently made it more difficult to keep and recruit drivers," Johnston says. "However, it is not the proper role of government to solve this business dilemma for them by forcing speed limiters down everyone else's throat so as not to lose their competitive edge."

It must be emphasized that OOIDA and OBAC absolutely do not condone speeding or other unsafe driving habits. To the contrary, both organizations have always urged truckers to comply with all state laws and federal regulations, including "running strictly at the posted speed limits." In addition, OOIDA has conducted an active national promotional campaign since June of 2003 encouraging such strict compliance.

OOIDA and OBAC have promptly filed their comments in response to an open comment deadline set by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario.

Founded in 1973, OOIDA is comprised of more than 133,000 owner-operators, professional drivers and small business truckers from all 50 states and Canada. With its national headquarters located just east of Kansas City in Grain Valley, MO, OOIDA represents the interests of the nation's trucking professionals in the legislative and regulatory processes at both federal and state levels.

OBAC was launched in September 2002 in response to the challenges facing Canadian owner-operators. OBAC speaks for the owner-operator, and is the unified voice of the small-business trucker in Canada. OBAC is actively involved in the legislative process both on the federal and provincial level, participating in discussions on issues affecting all professional truckers.

Contacts: Rick Craig, OOIDA (816) 229-5791 and Joanne Ritchie, OBAC 613-237-6222

Founded in 1973, the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) is composed of more than 133,000 owner-operators, professional drivers, and small business truckers from all 50 states, and Canada. OOIDA represents the interests of this nation's more than 350,000 small-business trucking professionals in the legislative and regulatory processes at both federal and state levels.