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The U.S. Dept. of Transportations has proposed rules to require trucks and buses to be equipped with a device that would limit their speed. Rules are for trucks and buses over 26,000 lbs. The speed limit has not been determined but will be set after 60 day comment period.
I would think that the 'device' would be more than the old fashion mechanical 'engine governor' that was used on engines with a carb.
So, trucks and buses over 26,000 lbs. Are vehicles under 26,000 lbs. next?
Most company trucks are already electronically governed at 65...maybe 70 tops. How slow do they want traffic to go?
Nah, I wouldn't worry too much about them trying any of this with passenger cars. The feds have been on a kick lately to put the clamps down on trucks and the trucking industry lately.
Most company trucks are already electronically governed at 65...maybe 70 tops. How slow do they want traffic to go?
Nah, I wouldn't worry too much about them trying any of this with passenger cars. The feds have been on a kick lately to put the clamps down on trucks and the trucking industry lately.
Actually many are governed as low as 61 but most 63. The speed limit law proposed won't do anything to prevent accidents. The 4 wheelers cutting off these trucks are mostly the cause of accidents.
Actually many are governed as low as 61 but most 63. The speed limit law proposed won't do anything to prevent accidents. The 4 wheelers cutting off these trucks are mostly the cause of accidents.
The governors on trucks now often have more to do with fuel efficiency than with safety. Company trucks can be remotely governed and the speed limiter raised and lowered as needed. I remember reading about one company that limited the speed of it's trucks when traversing the Rockies and rewarded the most efficient drivers with higher speed limits when in the plains. Keep banging off the limited in the mountains and you'll get 63 mph and no more in Oklahoma. Drive efficiently and we'll give you 74 mph.
At my job, when we take delivery of new school buses, they go like hell because they have to drive them here (VA) from the factory in Arkansas. When they get here, they whip out a laptop and set the top speed at 55 mph.
Actually many are governed as low as 61 but most 63. The speed limit law proposed won't do anything to prevent accidents. The 4 wheelers cutting off these trucks are mostly the cause of accidents.
Or, you know, the truckers that I see every day cluttering up the left lane, not bothering to signal or look before moving over, tailgating, and basically being jerks. Except jerks in 80,000 pound trucks. The roads would be so much better if trucks were restricted to only the right lane and not allowed to drive except limited hours during that day, and if they are caught driving side-by-side and obstructing the flow of traffic or in the left-hand lane, immediate one year suspension of license.
Just about any trucking industry related magazine or internet site. This has been proposed for awhile, along with mandatory fuel economy ratings.
Due to emissions regulations trucks today are all electronically controlled, I drove a truck this weak that developed a low power problem. In the old days that was usually a clogged fuel filter or something similar. When the mechanic came out all he brought was a laptop, checked the codes, reset the computer and I was on my way. Truck developed same problem 2 days later, it was a rental and they "weren't able" to find a replacement.
Just like cars, they can take a laptop, diagnose most problems, change horsepower, engine speed, and road speed.
Yes, it seems to make things a lot more complicated, but 30yrs ago if you got 500K miles out of an engine, it was considered a lot. Today most trucks can approach the 1 million mile mark. I drove one regularly for my old company the pulled up most hills with a full load, and I might have to drop 1 gear. Was a 8yr old Mack with 1 million 100K miles on it.
Here in Ontario, Canada, the Ministry of Transport has had a engine limiter law since 2009 on all trucks over 20,000 pounds. The limit is 105 kilometres per hour which is 63 miles per hour.
It works, and the trucking industry endorses it, as a fuel saver and a engine life extender. A by product is that the MTO enforcement officers can easily spot the "out of Province " trucks, mainly from Quebec who are blasting down the road.. The fines are huge and if the driver of the truck has more than 2 outstanding Ontario speeding fines in his name that are unpaid , the plates come off the truck until they are paid .
What DOT should do keep normal cars out of truck lanes during some times. I think that's the most dangerous combo is having some Joe Blow doing 55mph on a truck lane another Jane doing 60mph on the right lane of the truck lanes. I've seen way too many times a big rig forced to go to the left lane to get around some scared Volvo or Subaru driver doing 65mph blocking lanes.
Whenever a truck has to go left lane it can cause collision with a bus or other faster car. In one case nearby a fuel truck collided with a 18 wheeler and the whole fuel truck went up in flames.
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