FMCSA Kills Speed Limiter Mandate After Massive Pushback from Trucking Industry

In a regulatory rollback, FMCSA and have officially withdrawn their proposed speed limiter mandate for heavy-duty trucks. The announcement, scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on July 24, marks the end of a contentious rulemaking process that has spanned nearly two decades.

The now-defunct proposal would have required speed limiting devices to be installed and maintained on trucks already equipped with electronic engine control units (ECUs), with the speed cap set by federal officials.

“This is the end of a deeply flawed proposal that would have hurt truckers and done little to improve safety,” said OOIDA EVP Lewie Pugh.

What the Rule Would Have Done

• Mandated speed limiters on heavy trucks engaged in interstate commerce.
• Required affected trucks to maintain federally determined maximum speeds for their service life.
• Initially proposed in 2016, the rule gained renewed attention in 2022 through an updated ANSPRM.

However, FMCSA and NHTSA cited insufficient safety data and federalism concerns in their decision to withdraw the rule:

“The 2016 NPRM lacks a sufficiently clear and compelling safety justification for its implementation… and significant data gaps remain,” the agencies wrote.

Overwhelming Public Opposition

The agencies received over 15,600 public comments on the rule:

• Only 300 supported the measure.
• Over 15,000 opposed it—many citing:
  • Reduced income from fewer miles and deliveries.
  • Longer driving hours and increased fuel costs.
  • Safety concerns due to speed differentials on highways.

“This failed proposal represented the worst of Washington and the worst of trucking: big corporations trying to use big government to undercut small businesses,” said Pugh.

OOIDA's Role in the Fight

OOIDA played a central role in lobbying against the rule. In an email sent to FreightCaviar, George O’Connor, Director of Communications for OOIDA, said:

“This proposal would not only have killed small businesses in the industry, but also made our roadways less safe for all motorists.”

OOIDA applauded the Trump administration and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy for honoring their “Pro-Trucker” commitments, which included the withdrawal of the speed limiter rule.

What This Means for the Industry

• No federal speed limiter mandate is forthcoming under current leadership.
• Small carriers and independent operators view the decision as a major win against what they saw as regulatory overreach.
• Larger fleets that had supported the rule are now left without a uniform national policy on truck speed governance.

With the speed limiter rule officially off the table, attention will now turn to whether future administrations will revisit the issue or leave it to states and individual carriers to set their own standards.

Source: CDLLIFE