Trump Administration Shelves Obama’s Speed Limiter Rule for Truckers

Source: FMCSA

Washington – The Trump administration officially shelved the 2016 Obama-era proposal requiring speed limiters on heavy commercial vehicles. Introduced by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the rule targeted newly manufactured trucks, buses, and multipurpose vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,000 pounds or more.

The original proposal suggested maximum speeds of 60, 65, or 68 mph. While no single option was preferred, federal agencies highlighted significant safety and environmental benefits, including hundreds of lives saved annually, reduced crash severity, and over $1 billion in fuel savings due to lower aerodynamic drag and engine stress.

Safety organizations such as the National Safety Council (NSC), Truck Safety Coalition, and Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety applauded the proposal, noting that a national 65 mph speed cap for large trucks could prevent over 200 deaths and nearly 5,000 injuries per year.

Although the rule progressed to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) stage in 2016, it was halted during Trump’s term and later revived under President Biden.