WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Truck drivers have mixed feelings about a new federal regulation that lawmakers may soon pass into law it would put the brakes on their travel time by limiting their speed.
Most people 28/22 News spoke with think this potential regulation is a good idea, while some are still unsure how it will impact their day-to-day trips
the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration also known as FMCSA would like to put speed limits on heavy vehicles such as 18-wheelers. This is something that has been in the making for a while now but if passed by lawmakers it it could go into effect as early as May of this year.
“This started in 2016 when the FMCSA and the Nation Highway Traffic Safety Administration started talking about doing limits for commercial vehicles over 26 thousand pounds,” said Frank Tunis the CDL program director at Fortis Institute,
For truck drivers in the northeastern PA area if the limits are approved it wouldn’t change much for them.
“I do believe they’re gonna wind up where they’re gonna limit the speed around 68 miles an hour and again in our area we have roads that are 55 miles per hour and we have roads on 380 that are 70 miles an hour we’re right in that ballpark,” added Tunis.
28/22 News stopped by Blue Ridge Travel Plaza in Mountain Top to talk with truck drivers about the proposed changes. one driver says for him it would be an inconvenience.
“The way things are now with e-logs and everything it would really compromise everything I think on time of delivery and everything,” says Basil Brown a truck driver.
There’s been some mixed feelings about whether this would be a pro or a con but one driver says it won’t be an issue for him because he already drives slower than the posted speed limit.
One driver 28/22 News spoke to says he has been driving for 18 years and has never got into an accident.
Trucks take a longer time to stop so Zorrilla stresses it’s also important for smaller vehicles on the road to be cautious.
“No matter if you are loaded or unloaded it is difficult to stop that baby,” added Abelarvo Zorrilla.
He also says he thinks if this new regulation is passed it will help save lives and prevent accidents. Another driver who has been driving a big rig for three years is also for this new regulation but is not hopeful it will happen.
“I think what’s gonna happen is with that limit for the speed limiter along with things like the new technologies of emergency front breaking front end collision warnings those kinds of things together will help to slow down accidents,” explained Tunis.
Now for the concern about making pick-up and delivery appointments on time, Tunis says that’s nothing pre-trip planning won’t fix.
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