(The Hill) – The Department of Transportation on Thursday withdrew a proposed rule to mandate speed limiters on heavy vehicles.
The Obama administration in 2016 initially proposed the requirement that trucks be equipped with a speed-limiting device. The rule was set to limit vehicles with a gross weight of more than 26,000 pounds to a traveling speed of 65 mph.
The proposal was reaffirmed in 2022 by the Biden administration.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a June press release that the device is not only an “inconvenience” but a hazard for drivers who are forced to go slower than the flow of traffic.
The move is a part of a broader package endorsed by Duffy to alter truck driver regulations. Additional changes include a mandate requiring all drivers to speak English and a more than $275 million investment initiative tied to grant funding for expanded parking access.
“While the country sleeps, truckers grind through the night to help keep shelves stocked, families fed, and businesses humming. It’s a job that requires grit and dedication,” Duffy said last month.
“But for too long Washington, DC has made work harder for truckers. That ends today. Thanks to President Trump, we’re getting Washington out of your trucks and your business.”
