The speed limiter proposal and one to enact a national 65 mph speed limit was part of a package of industry reforms ATA presented to Congress, which ATA said were developed to reduce fuel consumption.
ATA First Vice Chairman Tommy Hodges, head of Titan Transfer Inc., told a Congressional committee that the package of initiatives "reduce fuel consumption by 86 billion gallons and reduce the carbon footprint of all vehicles by nearly a billion tons over the next 10 years."
Canadian provinces Ontario and Quebec have enacted speed limiter laws, popular among larger fleets but highly unpopular with owner-operators. The reaction is no different in the U.S., where the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association said it "believes recommendations made under the guise of environmental sustainability…are meant to eliminate competition, not emissions. …Those things have nothing to do with making trucking more ‘green’ and everything to do with adding more ‘green’ to the pockets of large corporations."
The ATA package of proposals also includes increased funding for the EPA’s SmartWay program; national fuel economy standards for medium and heavy-duty trucks; tax credits or grants to expedite use of idling reduction equipment; infrastructure improvements to fix critical bottlenecks and ease congestion; and funds for research and development of fuel-saving technologies. (Tire Review/Akron)