White House delays proposed speed limiter mandate

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Updated Sep 9, 2015

truck-highwayA looming rule to mandate the use of speed limiting devices on heavy trucks has been delayed, according to a notice on the White House’s Office of Management and Budget’s rulemaking portal.

The OMB, which must stamp approval on rules prior to their publication, has added a note to the status of the so-dubbed Heavy Vehicle Speed Limiter rule that says “review extended,” a change made Sept. 1.

The OMB usually has 90 days to approve or deny a regulatory agency’s rulemaking, but it can choose to extend that time if necessary. The DOT agency creating the rule, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, sent the rule to the OMB on May 19, meaning the 90-day window would close Aug. 19.

The OMB did not say why it needed more time to review the rule.

The DOT began work on the mandate nearly 10 years ago. No details about the rule — like whether it will require the installation and use of speed limiters retroactively on all heavy trucks or just new trucks and what the limited speed will be — have been released.