The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) is calling for stronger enforcement of the province's 105 km/h speed cap for commercial vehicles, arguing that current efforts are insufficient to ensure compliance.
OTA President Calls for More Vigorous Enforcement
Stephen Laskowski, president and CEO of the OTA, expressed support for the speed cap but emphasized the need for better enforcement. “We strongly support the cap, but our issue is that we don’t believe the cap is being enforced enough,” Laskowski told the Toronto Sun. “For some time, we have felt that the province has not been vigorous enough in enforcing this law.”
The provincial government raised the speed limit for passenger vehicles to 110 km/h while capping commercial vehicle speed at 105 km/h. The speed increase took effect on June 26. Laskowski highlighted the benefits of the cap: “When you control the truck at 105, you are safer, you are in less collisions, more fuel efficient, and it is easier for the driver, less pressure on the driver.”
Increased Fines and Inspection Station Concerns
To improve compliance, the province introduced legislation increasing the minimum fine for commercial speed limiter violations from $250 to $1,000. However, Laskowski noted that many inspection stations across Ontario are frequently closed. “Many of our inspection stations across Ontario are closed on a regular basis,” he said. “The OTA, as a result of this announcement, is saying ‘open up every single one of the inspections stations across southern Ontario to 24/7 operation, provide them with this technology where you plug in to ensure the speed control devices are operational and you will see highway safety in southern Ontario improve dramatically.’”
The OTA, representing about 50% to 60% of the approximately 250,000 Class 8 trucks in Ontario, developed technology with the province to limit commercial truck speeds. Laskowski said checking a truck's speed activation device takes about a minute or less. “They simply get plugged in. And if they have their speed device control on, they are good to go. And if they are not, they get fined (and possibly) if it continues, put out of service. The government needs to step up and enforce the law on the cap on trucks.”
Speed Limiters in Use Across North America
According to the Government of Canada, speed limiters are widely used in North America's trucking industry. Surveys in the U.S. indicate that 60% of heavy truck fleets are already speed-limited, and the percentage of trucks that are speed-limited is estimated at 77% when considering larger fleets. Similar surveys have not been conducted in Canada, but available information indicates a similar level of usage.
Laskowski acknowledged that other segments of the industry are unhappy with the cap but remains focused on safety. He referenced a U.S. government study showing that trucks without speed limiters were 49% more likely to be involved in a collision compared to those with speed limiters. “It goes to show you that these devices make highways safer, they protect the drivers that operate the trucks and equally important, protecting people that share the highway with the trucks,” Laskowski said.
