WASHINGTON – TRALA is opposing the consideration of New Jersey legislation that would mandate speed limiting devices on any commercial truck operating in the state until a decision is made on a federal rule. In order to avoid a state-by-state patchwork of varying equipment mandates, TRALA is asking that New Jersey wait until the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has completed its own study and consideration of a federal rulemaking that would create a national standard for speed limiting devices on trucks.

New Jersey Assembly Bill 2415, introduced by Assemblywoman Marcia Karrow (R–Flemington) on Mar. 3 would require a speed limiting device set at 68 miles per hour on every truck operating in the state. As written, the bill would require the retrofitting of any truck, regardless of its age. For lessors, the proposal could force the installation of devices on every truck in order to insure compliance for vehicles that may travel through New Jersey.

In March 2007, TRALA supported a federal rulemaking process on speed limiters in letters to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In its letters, TRALA supported the American Trucking Associations petition for a rulemaking to require vehicle manufacturers to install speed limiting devices set at no more than 68 miles per hour on new trucks with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating greater than 26,000 pounds. TRALA also supported a rulemaking to prohibit tampering with the devices.

For more information on this issue, contact TRALA’s Tom James at (703) 299-9120 or at tjames@trala.org.