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Brand Protection/Anti-Counterfeiting Card Check and the Employee Free Choice Act Commercial Vehicle Safety Technology Global Environmental Regulations International Trade Negotiations Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit Stopping Distance for Heavy Duty Trucks
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supplier issues Stopping Distance for Heavy Duty Trucks Description: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released its long-expected notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) for air brake systems in late 2005. In this action, the agency proposed to amend its air brake standard to improve the stopping distance performance of truck tractors. Status: Based on current safety trend data and brake system technologies for truck tractors, NHTSA believes the required stopping distance for these vehicles can be reduced by 20 to 30 percent with existing technologies. This rulemaking would reduce stopping distance requirements for truck tractors equipped with air brake systems. As part of this effort, the agency has performed test track evaluations of large trucks equipped with conventional, air disc, and hybrid (air disc equipped steer axle, conventionally braked drive axles) brakes and has also met extensively with industry stakeholders to gather additional data and information. MEMA submitted comments on this rule in partnership with the Heavy Duty Brake Manufacturers Council (HDBMC) and has been working with agency staff. Impact on Industry: NHTSA’s plan to upgrade the air brake standard will have a substantial affect on the heavy duty industry as a whole. While NHTSA is only addressing truck tractors in this rule, the agency has expressed concern of the braking performance of other types of heavy vehicles (i.e. trailers, straight trucks, and buses) as well. NHTSA has indicated it may address stopping distance requirements for those vehicles in a future rulemaking. 2008 Anticipated Action: MEMA will continue to work with NHTSA to monitor progress and assist the agency through the process of this rulemaking. MEMA Staff Contact: Leigh Merino
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