How to ask a question

I know the title is somewhat awkward on a trucking blog but, it’s the best way I found to relate “polling” and “trucking”. What question are you thinking about? The one that has been asked on the speed limiters for heavy trucks. Yes this is almost an obsession and I am not about to let go either. There is also, at the time these lines are written, 642 others that have signed the online petition, are thinking the same way I am on this topic.

If I was to ask decision makers in the trucking industry the following question:
Do you agree that the activation of the speed limiter on heavy trucks registered in Quebec is a good way to reduce speeding trucks?
Personally, I could be giving a positive answer to that. Mostly if I am a fleet owner that wishes to keep a control on my drivers to make sure they respect the company’s policies.

Notice in the question, some data is missing. The word mandatory is not there, 105Km/h either and also missing is the word all. I know a few company owners and it is in their policies to activate the speed limiter on their fleets so they can have a standard on the operations, the fuel consumption and even, for some, save on the insurance cost. This is a business decision these owners took.

A study* from the American Trucking Research Institute (ATRI) released in March 2007 show that on 148 respondents that turned in their answers, 69% of them do use the speed limiter in their fleets. The average speed is 113Km/h (70moh), for the following reasons:

5% for insurance
8% for safety
18% for fuel economy
69% to respect speed limits

The speed cap chosen is often related to the size of the fleet. The larger the fleet, the lower the speed limit is.

This makes me say that the activation of the speed limiter is and should stay a simple business decision from the owner of the company.

However, if I ask you the following questions:
Do you agree that the mandatory activation of the speed limiter at 105Km/h on all heavy trucks registered in Quebec is a good way to reduce speeding trucks?
My answer would now be a negative one with this comment: "It’s up to the Ministry of Public Security to put more radars on the roads and to the Ministry of Transport to uphold the laws on the book before making new ones”.

Talking about radars and questions, this brings one up. Why are certain groups in this industry, pushing the speed limiter at no more then 105 Km/h issue, also opposes photo-radars?

Do I need to remind you to sign the online petition opposing mandatory speed limiter at no more then 105Km/h? The link to it is in the top right corner of this blog. Make your voice heard

Happy trails to all and run compliant
Jean Catudal

*The results of this study is available online at
www.atri-online.org/research/results/speedGovernorSurvey.pdf