The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration says not to expect further steps on the speed limiter rulemaking until this fall at the earliest. The release of a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking was anticipated for this summer.
Why the delay? First, consider that FMCSA received over 15,600 comments on the advance notice of proposed rulemaking. An ANPRM simply solicits input and tests out possible regulatory ideas. Imagine, then, the response FMCSA would receive to an NPRM, the notice of proposed rulemaking that seeks reaction to the actual proposed speed limiter rule. To be prepared, FMCSA must first digest the 15,600 comments received and then use that input to establish the parameters of the proposed rule. Besides yes or no on whether speed limiters will be proposed, the questions begging to be answered include:
There are many, many more questions to be answered. As of now, it appears those answers must wait until the fall. In the meantime, ICSA will begin requiring new members joining after July 1, 2023 to limit speeds in their power units to 68 mph and asking current members to voluntarily limit speeds in their power units.
Every year, TAT (formerly called Truckers Against Trafficking) honors a member of the trucking, bus or energy industry, whose direct actions help save or improve the lives of those exploited or prevent human trafficking from taking place, with the Harriet Tubman Award
Bob Costello has indicated that the freight market has improved – but very slowly – since January. It must be said that ATA’s indices are dominated by contract freight as opposed to spot rates.
Now, however, with Republican control of both houses of Congress and the White House (and, some say, the Supreme Court) I am optimistic that trucking will get a fairer shake than it has during Biden’s term in office.