OOIDA on the road – November 2025
For the past several years, many OOIDA members have stopped by the Spirit tour truck and voiced their concerns about a potential speed limiter mandate on commercial motor vehicles.
Many of these concerns focused on concepts that most truckers have seen with their own eyes. They said a mandate would create dangerous speed differentials, causing trucks to sometimes go 20 or even 30 mph slower than the regular flow of traffic. They also knew that a slow-moving truck could become a target for road rage. And while the mandate might limit a truck to 60 or 65 mph in a 75 or 80 mph zone, it would also encourage truck drivers to go the maximum speed through slower speed zones.
Above all else, truckers believed the proposal was bad for safety. But instead of just complaining about it to their fellow truckers, thousands of drivers made sure that regulators and lawmakers also heard their concerns.
It worked. Over the summer, the U.S. Department of Transportation officially announced that it did not plan to pursue a speed limiter mandate. Since then, several OOIDA members have stopped by the Spirit to thank OOIDA for helping get the speed limiter proposal off the table.
No doubt, OOIDA worked hard to make that happen. But these OOIDA members should also give themselves a pat on the back. The Association is well aware that it is only as strong as its membership. OOIDA needs members like the ones featured here to get things done.
Calvin Chapman, a life member from Monona, Iowa, and Russell Tendall, a life member from Elma, Iowa, said that OOIDA has been helpful on numerous occasions.
Vivienne Sieker, a member from Cedar Point, N.C., was one of the truckers who stopped by the Spirit to thank OOIDA for fighting back against speed limiters. She has been trucking since 2020.
Gerald and Donna Mullenix, life members from Cincinnati, Iowa, visited with tour truck driver Marty Ellis at the Spirit in the spring. They’re retired now, but they reminisced about going on the Truckin Bozo Cruise and about OOIDA Executive Vice President Lewie Pugh once helping them with a blowout after leaving a truck show.
Al Hemerson, a life member from Bradgate, Iowa, wanted to get the word out about title fraud. He said he’s been involved in an eight-year battle and that it could happen to anyone.
Summer Daye, a life member from Hendersonville, Tenn., hauls entertainment equipment with a Peterbilt. She said she appreciates the value of being an OOIDA member. LL