I am a cop, and I patrol the freeway. I will not stop a truck going 65 or under unless they're doing something really stupid, and our truck speed limit in Oregon is 55. If I do stop a truck for speeding, its because it's speeding, not to generate revenue :roll:. The last thing I think about when I issue a speeding citation is the money it may bring in. The speed limits in most states are set by the state legislature, so the way to change it is get a petition, get it on a ballot, and vote.

I personally think that the speed limits on the freeways in Oregon are too low (65 cars, 55 trucks). I do know that the original federally set speed limits of 55mph were due to some smart guy back in the black and white days determining that the kinetic energy built up by an object increases exponentially after 55mph, thus causing quite a bit more damage at 65 vs. 55 (compared to 45 vs. 55) I'm not sure why, I'm not smart enough to figure out the math of the equation.

Another thing to think about is cost vs. benefit. If you run faster, you will run more miles in a day, but you will also burn more fuel (Fozzy is right!) and run your truck at a higher rpm's (= more wear and tear on stuff). You also increase your stopping distance and decrease reaction times. When you add in adverse weather conditions, it quantifies the problems. If you can justify the benefits over the cost of running consistently faster, then you should run fast in the states that you can legally do it in. I know that California and Oregon have both stated firmly that they will not raise the truck speed limits, citing safety reasons. I'm not sure if it's true, but I do know that guys like you and I will probably never be able to influence any state legislature, we're just not that rich.

That's my rant.

W.C.

 

NOPE! Last I heard, there were about 3 million truck drivers in the U.S.

Figure HALF of them are local jockeys or yard dogs, and NEVER see the open highway. Or are NOT even using their CDL's! That leaves 1.5 million.

Of these, the vast MAJORITY (according to the posts on this board) are governed at or below 65 mph! That leaves LESS than half of 1.5 million!

Let's see..... add this, carry that..... I'd say there are no more than 1/2 million trucks on the road that can even DO more than 65 mph!!

Of these..... how many even have to GO through these lame states with the lower speed limits?? Hmmm...... I give up! :lol:

Oh wait.... did I forget to subtract the ones who strictly adhere to the speed limits?? I forget! Hm.....

I guess it's just ME and a few Hundred Thousand O/O's that ever spend much of their day at OVER 65mph!!! :shock:

Isn't MATH..... and REALITY...... a wonderful thing???

So..... WHAT was your point about how millions of trucks are responsible for the fuel consumption in the U.S.???

Oh that's right..... you didn't PROVE such a point! :wink:

Now..... give me some figures on the number of SUV's and THEIR fuel mileage.

 

I'm pretty sure that the speed limit was dropped to "double NICKLE" during the gas shortage in the 70's...not for safety reasons . :wink:

 

Ah.... Dangit!! Who let a COP in here???? :shock: :lol:

Just kidding W.C!! I want to THANK you for your informative post AND your attitude!

I run Oregon and CA quite a bit, and I love your states! But, I want to explain something. My truck will do 75. It did MORE before the boss cut in the REV limiters! He THINKS he is saving fuel..... but I don't see it!

My truck now "bogs down" at 60-55 mph, and I have to downshift to 9th gear! Boom, the RPM's go UP!! That burns more fuel, I don't care what anyone says! Fuel is burnt with every revolution of the engine. Anyway, point is, you've got me in a BIND! The long slow grades, and even the sharp ones, cause me to shift up and down, over and over, and mostly DOWN! My truck is DYING! My tranny is struggling.

I don't know about OTHER trucks, but mine runs BEST at about 65 mph or more. Maybe, it burns a bit more fuel at the real HIGH speeds of 75, but I'm not asking for THAT! I'm just BEGGING to be let out of the "prison" that I'm in at 55-60!

For what it's worth, I've found (in my SHORT career) that MOST 'bears' will let us slide with 5-9 mph over the limit, as long as we're not exceeding the normal flow of traffic, or driving aggressively. For me.... it's NOT a matter of trying to get more miles while I am sleepy.... heck.... I drive TEAM and can switch after 9 or 10 hours! It's about a 'comfort level' with the truck and tranny!

I can't COUNT how many times I've met a bear coming the other way and I didn't KNOW he was gonna BE there (I can't HEAR my CB cuz I smoke and have the window open,) and he lets me go by and then FLIPS to get the 4wheeler that blew past me doing 10 mph more than me (or the limit.)

I KNOW I'm in the wrong! And someday, I'll meet the guy with a chip on his shoulder about trucks. But, I want to say how much I appreciate that MOST of you understand our dilemma, and cut us some slack!

Heck, in Texas, I've even had a few slow down and "feignt" towards the median! I slow down, showing him some respect, and he lets me go! I don't know if this will always work.... but, I haven't gotten a speeding ticket yet, and I don't feel I drive too fast for traffic OR conditions.

Anyway..... THANKS.... West Coaster! See you on the road! I'll be the one pushing the envelope..... but trying to behave! :wink:

 

You are correct about the reason for the national 55 mph speed limit. It had nothing to do with safety. Someone with time on their hands decided that we would burn less fuel going 55 than 75. We were in an oil or fuel crisis. At that time interstate speeds were about 75 in many if not most states, as I recall. Once supplies stabilized they changed the law and allowed states to decide for themselves whether they wanted to raise the speed limit. Most did. I get my best fuel mileage between 65-70.

 

...

 

I'm w/ you all the way... one of the things the lawmakers may be thinking is that if the speed limits were 65, SOME or at least a few of the drivers runnin 65-70 now will start going 75-80+ ....again, i say raise the limits for the greater good.....beats getting passed by angry drivers that rush to pass then drop in 5 feet in front of your bumper because your they think you're holding them up...

 

the same type of idiot will do that no matter how fast you are going. There are idiots out there, they've been out there forever.

 

GMAN I remember a thread saying my company truck got it's best fuel mileage at 65-70 also and I was told that it's just not possible.... Glad I'm not the only one... :lol:

 

my suv gets 26 in the city and 30 on the highway