Truckers Brace For These 4 Major Proposals in 2021
With every new administration in the White House, there comes a slew of new (or supplemental) regulations.
The Biden administration has its hands full as far as dealing with the effects of the pandemic. There will most likely be spillover into infrastructure, and effectively the commercial vehicle industry.
These are just 4 of the many new regulations (some likelier to pass than others) that may affect your fleet in the coming year:
New Insurance Minimums
As of now, all heavy-duty vehicles hauling non-hazardous freight require at least $750,000 in insurance coverage.
The minimum for trucks exceeding 10,000 lbs that haul hazardous materials is at least $1,000,000.
The (shelved) U.S. House’s 2020 highway bill included amendments which would increase insurance requirements to at least $2 million. With a Democrat-controlled Congress and White House, this minimum would most likely be carried over into any new infrastructure bill going forward.
Speed Limiters For Trucks
The controversial guidelines for speed limiters for trucks with a gross vehicle weight more than 26,000 pounds is back on the table, as the previous administration had all but shelved this idea as well.
The limiters would keep heavyweight vehicles under speeds ranging from 60-80, depending on locality.
The proposals by government agencies would require newly manufactured trucks AND trucks previously on the road to have the limiters activated.
Some drivers contend that the limiters would actually make roads unsafer, as they interrupt the flow of regular traffic and make lane switching harder.
Mandatory Automatic Emergency Braking
While manufacturers agreed on including AEB for all new cars and light trucks by 2022, the new medium and heavy duty trucks were left out of the initiative--until now.
Commercial vehicles will likely be getting the same treatment as their smaller counterparts soon enough, as this is another piece of the infrastructure bills going forward.
Lawmakers are looking to put collision-sensing automatic e-brakes on buses, and big rigs are next on their sights.
Sleep Apnea Screening
Another proposal withdrawn by the previous administration was the requirement for sleep-apnea screening.
Approximately 30% of commercial truck drivers suffer from mild or severe sleep apnea, linked to fatigue and sleep-related crashes.
The proposal would mean drivers with a BMI (body mass index) of 40 or higher would be flagged, and the Biden administration is putting priority on this issue with the FMSCA.
