As the FMCSA made clear its intention to issue some speed limiter regulation next year, some 15,000 truckers and other industry participants commented on the Federal Register notice to mostly trash the idea. And it's a fact that every owner-operator I've spoken to about speed limiters absolutely hates the notion of them being required equipment. All but one, that is. New Hampshire-based Robert Ellis brings an interesting, if rare, perspective to the conversation.
Ellis limits his 2016 Kenworth W900 at just 58 miles per hour. The truck gets 7.5 miles per gallon loaded, he said, and with another few aero touches he's hopeful he can push 9. It could happen. Recall that mpg guru Steve Kron, an owner-operator hauling in a heavily-modified 2001International, manages to pull 10 miles per gallon while averaging around 59 mph.
Ellis should own his truck outright next year, and "until then, I don't want to put much work into it," he said of potential modifications.
Ellis named the W900
[Related: Speed limiters: How fast is too fast?]
Ellis doesn't miss the speed. "I get everywhere on time," he said, also noting it's easy on the engine. Ellis pulls a reefer across the lower 48 for PDP Trucking out of Cedar Hill, Texas, and holds somewhat extreme views when it comes to speed limits. "I support a national speed limit of 60 mph," he said. "And if anyone's blowing the speed limit, the police should nail them."
As for speed limiters cutting down a driver's potential productivity, Ellis seemed to think that would be a problem for shippers to hash out, not him.
