ATA ASKS FMCSA TO EXTEND SPEED LIMITER COMMENT PERIOD BY 30 DAYS

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) is asking FMCSA for a 30-day extension to the current 60-day public comment period concerning the DOT's recent proposal to require speed limiters on CMVs weighing over 26,000 pounds.

ATA was joined by 50 other state trucking associations in making the request.

In a letter to Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, ATA President and CEO Chris Spear indicated that “the rule as proposed, would have a significant impact on the whole of ATA’s membership and many more industry participants.”

As of now, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and FMCSA speed proposal specifies three possible top speeds – 60, 65 and 68 mph – which impacts time and costs at each limit.

The Agencies also did not propose a timeline for implementation for the rule or give any insights into how long the development of a final rule would take.

Spear cited the fact that DOT has not even specified a governed speed or timeline, which “requires additional time for ATA and its federation partners to re-engage its membership on these important issues.”

The current proposed rule is available in the Federal Register and is open for comments. The deadline is November 7, 2016.