I need some help or ideas in getting my fleet of F-series governed to about 65mph. I would like to do this using a chip or programming.
The point is that we, as a company, are legally liable for our vehicles. By governing the top speed we are taking a step towards keeping the roads a little safer.
Because, when you think about it, you would not want to have a 10,000 pound truck bearing down on you and your family at 85mph.
All serious advice appreciated.

 

I know it’s doable because Publix 18 wheelers in FL have a 65mph top speed.

 

First I want to say that I'm not trying to argue with you about what you think you want to do but to consider some other ramifacations of this action.
You won't stop another vehicle from bearing down on you or anyone else, as you say.
Going slow is a matter of staying in the right most lanes and letting others alone.
Instruct your employees about what your company expects of there driving.
Trying to use left wing liberal solutuons impressed on everyone is not the way.
Don't get me wrong, I retired from a lot bigger company than yours without even knowing who your company is, and they try all kinds of way to conrol everything.
They have had GPS reporting devices in the trucks for several years now and hound the service people by even going so far as to ask them why they parked their truck two blocks away from the job when there were no parking places closer. They have a supervisor just watch everyone from a terminal.
Next your company will be asking why things are not getting done as fast as they used to and blaming the drivers. Then the revolving door begins. That's one way we get more aliens to come here to work.
Thank for letting me use a first ammendment right.

 

md

I'm confident that Mike Troyer could do that for you.

Come to think of it, a lower speed program could be just the ticket for when my daughter gets her license!!!!!!!!!

Several comments: you may notice your lessor drivers doing serious tailgating as they attempt to pass someone and run mile after mile in the left lane with the engine bumping the top speed limiter. However, your good drivers will understand the limitations of their trucks and drive accordingly. You may find more favorable insurance rates for your fleet, with your idea in place.

The one arguement against top speed limiters is, of course, that the occasional situation arises where additional speed would be safer, say when traffic is merging on a freeway.

Nearly all the company owned class eight trucks on the road today have top speed limiters set less than 70 mph.

As a someone who drives a class eight truck, my top speed is 63 mph. I realize this and spend very little time in the left lane, as 63 mph is not a proper speed for anyone in the left lane.

enb

 

Hi.

If you get an SCT custom tuner ( from Mike, for example) and your base tune files in *.XTR format, you can modify your top speed limiter settings yourself at will and reflash using Exteme Tune v1.0.3, available for free from SCT's web site.

The Speed limiter settings *may* not work for all vehicles/years - the '05 Mustang has some issues with adjustments in ExtremeTune for example - but it's fun to play with.

Just an fyi & something to consider as another alternative.

Just the thing to put your truck into 'valet parking' mode - crank down the top speed , dial in lots of spark retard, lower all the shift points and firmness and let the children drive it ;-)) he he

Cheers

 

Seriously though, In 2003 motor vehicles killed 44,800 people in the US. It is the leading cause of death at work.
The only person in our company to die on the job was a man who was crushed in the cab of an F150. He was rear-ended by an 18-wheeler and shoved under the trailer of another semi. My father, the president of our company, attended the funeral.
So here's the short of it: if we don't do something as a company to protect our workforce we would be in violation of OSHA's general duty clause, which states (paraphrased) "each employer shall furnish...a place of employment...free from recognized hazards that are...likely to cause death or serious physical harm." We recognize the hazard of driving--do you?

So how about it: you, as a retired "seasoned citizen", with all your wisdom, knowledge and answers, would you kindly tell me and others what your answer is to keeping employees safe on the roads?

 

You keep the employees safe by providing a vehicle in good condition with all the safety features (seatbelt, airbag, etc) in working condition. You provide training on how to drive the vehicle and how to perform emergency maintenance.
Everything else is the employees responisbility. If he crashes because he/she drove 90mph in a snowstorm, it's not the company or the truck that is responsible - just the employee.
You are looking at spending U$400 per truck for a custom chip to limit the top speed or U$500 for a GPS tracking/recording system. I would go with the GPS sytem myself because it keeps taps on the employees (why were you parked in front of Lulus House of Pleasure?), keeps records of truck use/abuse and can be used show trends and metrics.

Fritz

 

NEWS YOU CAN USE!
PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT DOES NOT MEAN THE CAB OF A TRUCK OUT ON THE HIGHWAY AND OUT OF THE EMPLOYERS CONTROL. GET IT?
Your taking the intepetation of the clause way to far.
If your going to insist , then put a supervisor on each truck with the driver. It's no more foolish than your position.
That will, I garrentee you, be the answer.

 

Hi guys;

At the risk of getting everyone's nuts in a knot over this
( remember, mdahlgren asked for serious advice)...

Technically - there are at least three methods to accomplish what the gentleman has asked - for about the same cost. That's a simple business decision ( whether a governor or a monitoring device), and is not uncommon, as we all know.

Morally - I believe it is also a prudent move to limit a ( large) commercial vehicle's speed, whether anyone else agrees is immaterial - that's called freedom of choice. Not to mention I was hit 28 years ago by a speeding stake truck ( a damn chebby, no less). So , my beliefs may be skewed somewhat by that experience.

Legally - this is where you would be best served by getting an unambiguous interpretation of the OSHA doctrine directly from the horse's mouth. Contact an OSHA rep who is intimately familiar with their guidelines / legislation, etc. Base your decision upon what is said. I'm certain this isn't the first time they have been asked.

Best of luck, whatever the outcome.

Cheers

 

I am glad you agree with me because we are placing a supervisor in each truck. I refer you to the website http://www.drivecam.com. We have four DriveCam units on order and we have plans to install a camera in the vehicles we deem are at risk.

But let's say for a moment that you are right: that would mean that the employee is responsible for the vehicle and everything that happens to it--that would mean that the employee would have to carry insurance on the company vehicle, doesn't it. How would you like to pay insurance on something you don't own. It would be like having to pay to be allowed to work.
If you don't want to be told how to drive you are welcome to ante up your own personal vehicle and deal with all the costs yourself. Between your previous posts I would think that the solution you are offering is to only hire aliens who provide their own vehicles and insurance.
Thank you so much for your insight and wisdom!
Now, may I please hear from someone who can tell me how to keep employees from driving themselves to death...

 

I like the idea of the GPS, but the House of Pleasure is not really our problem since this activity has been proven in some court cases as "therapy" (NO JOKE!) Besides, as long as the rig is not rockin' we won't come a-knockin' so to speak.

I think what is happening in this thread is that we are getting two ideas mixed up: one is legal liability which stems from direct and proximate cause of negligence and the other is responsibility for private property.

 

There is no way to limit or eliminate the companies liability in regarts to it's vehicles. That's what insurance is for. You can reduce your liability by providing mechanically sound trucks, giving safety training to your drivers and do pee pee tests on them and documenting punishment for driving infractions.
You may get a discount if you have speed limiters / gps trackers installed but no matter what, if a company vehicle is involved in an accident, expect to pay lawyers.
And lawyers can turn anything around - Your Honor, if the truck would have been able to go just 5mph faster, the accident could have been avoided and my client would not be suing for U$50 million.

Fritz

 

so because of this, you want to make it impossible to speed up and get out of the way if they see a semi in their rear-view mirror bearing down on them like a bat out of hell?

 

No, it's because a friend died in traffic that I am trying to do what I can to prevent traffic deaths from happening again. Recall that most on-the-job deaths stem from traffic events.
You're posing the question as if the "hammer" is the only way to get out of a tight situation. I would like to direct your attention to the big round thing that sits between the driver and the dash board. In a normal truck this direction-selecting device (aka steering wheel) allows an alert driver the choice of getting out of the way or not.
You may be one of the lucky few who can toss out "Lightning" or "Harley" versions of the F-series to your employees so they can accelerate their way out of every situation; we on the other hand can only afford to issue "Work Series" or "XL" versions. This means limited acceleration available, which leaves the "steering wheel", mentioned above, as a better option for avoiding getting rear ended. You just think about trying to go from 60mph to 80mph (or whatever) in a fully loaded F-series. If you can do that you are welcome to bring your brilliant driving skills to our company and teach our guys a lesson about how to drive just like you.
I don't pretend that a governor in itself is a "silver bullet" that will end traffic deaths but it is one of the tools at our disposal.
And to clarify what happened to the man that died: he was in the middle lane of three in stop-and-go traffic. He had nowhere to to but perhaps a governor in truck behind would have helped. And you wanted him to accelerate where? I guess next you are going to suggest playing russian roulette with a semi-automatic gun.
Me, I'm just searching for answers--got any?Again I ask for ways to keep our drivers safe--any suggestions? Any at all?

 

yes--don't limit the options they have to avoid a situation. If everybody else is going 80, someone going 65 is a real hazard.

but hey, why not set the limiter at 45? that must be a lot safer than 65?