Ranging from a speed limit of 55 mph to 85 mph, the maximum speed limit for trucks varies from state to state and sometimes from year to year.
April 1, 2019
minute read time
Ranging from a speed limit of 55 miles per hour (mph) to 85 mph, the maximum speed limit for trucks varies from state to state and sometimes from year to year. Currently, California has the most conservative maximum speed limit for trucks at 55 mph. At the other end of the spectrum, Texas has some roads where the truck speed limit is 85 mph. Because of the varying limits, there is not one common highway speed at which trucks travel. Manufacturers typically design the vehicle to perform well over the entire range of speeds.
Source:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Transportation Energy Data Book: Edition 37, ORNL/TM-2018/198, January 2019, Figure 5.7.
[Original source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute, "Speed Limits," September 2018.]