Speed Limiters for US Fleets

We supply and support US fleets with AutoKontrol speed limiters. US fleets buy through Scorpion, our parent group’s US team, and enquiries start with the AutoKontrol quote form. Fitting is agreed job by job. This page covers why fleets limit speed, where US rules stand, and which unit suits which vehicle.

AutoKontrol is British manufactured and has been making speed limiters since 1985. Our products have been supplied to customers in more than 50 countries, and our approvals include ISO 9001, UTAC, TÜV and VCA.

Why US fleets limit speed

Safety. Stopping distance grows quickly with speed, and a loaded truck needs far more room than a car. A fleet speed limiter, often called a speed governor in the US, caps the top speed whatever the driver does with the pedal, so your speed policy does not depend on who is driving that day.

Fuel. Fuel burn rises with speed. As a UK reference point, the UK Department for Transport fuel curves put the saving for a diesel van at 14.5% when it moves from 68 mph to 60 mph. Your vehicles, loads and routes will differ, so treat that as an indication, not a promise. You can explore the numbers on our speed and fuel data page, and work out your own fleet fuel bill at this week’s US price on our US diesel and gas prices page.

Control that does not depend on the engine. Many fleets use an engine setting for a speed cap. A separate, sealed fleet vehicle speed limiter stays under the fleet owner’s control instead of being changed with service software.

Evidence. TrackSpeed pairs the limiter with GPS tracking, so you can show where a vehicle was and that it stayed within its limit.

Theft as well as speed. For monitored stolen vehicle tracking and recovery in the US, our sister company ScorpionTrack USA watches vehicles 24/7. It explains how the two fit together in protecting a small fleet: theft and speed.

US rules on speed limiting devices

Heavy trucks. In July 2025 the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) withdrew their 2016 proposal to require a speed limiting device on heavy vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating above 26,000 pounds. FMCSA also withdrew its 2022 advance notice of supplemental proposed rulemaking. Both withdrawals took effect on July 24, 2025. The agencies stated that the withdrawal has no impact on operators’ ability to use these devices to manage speeds, and that operators may limit the speed of their own vehicles if they choose. We did not find a newer federal proposal. See the Federal Register notice for the detail.

Vans and cars. We are not aware of a general federal requirement to fit a speed limiter to vans or cars. Fleets that limit them do so by company policy, for safety, fuel and insurance reasons.

Trucks crossing into Canada. Ontario and Quebec require heavy trucks built after 1994 with a gross vehicle weight rating of 11,794 kg (26,000 lb) or more to have their speed limiter set to no more than 105 km/h, which is 65 mph, including trucks plated in the US. See truck speed limiter law in the US for the detail.

State speed limits. Posted limits are set state by state. In Texas, for example, the Transportation Commission may set limits of up to 85 mph where the highway is designed for it, according to TxDOT. A speed limiter lets a fleet set a lower cap than the posted limit.

Because fleet use is voluntary, the speed to set is a decision for the fleet. If your customers, insurers or contracts specify a requirement, send it to us with your quote request.

Which speed limiter fits your vehicles

Your vehicle or need	Fits	Notes
Vehicle with an electronic throttle	DBW speed limiter	Drive-By-Wire, works on the electronic throttle signal.
Newer trucks and vans with SENT throttle sensors	SENT speed limiter	Built for the SENT digital sensor protocol.
Older diesel with mechanical fuel control	System 80	Mechanical, works on the fuel line.
Speed limiting plus GPS tracking	TrackSpeed	Speed limiter and tracking in one device.
Lower speeds in depots, yards and sites	GeoKontrol 2	Geofenced zone speed limiting.

The dividing line is how the engine controls fuel. Electronic pedal, DBW or SENT. Mechanical fuel control, System 80. There is no model-by-model fitment list: if the pedal is electronic, the DBW limiter works.

A note on the term “plug in speed limiter”. It usually means a small device that plugs into a vehicle’s diagnostic port and tries to cap speed from there. Our units are different: they work on the vehicle’s throttle signal or fuel line, as the table shows.

How buying and fitting work in the US

Ask for a quote. Use the quote form and tell us what you run and how many vehicles.
We match the unit. Electronic throttle, DBW or SENT; mechanical fuel control, System 80.
You buy through Scorpion’s US team. US fleets are supplied through Scorpion, our parent group’s US team.
Fitting is agreed per job. Your own technicians can fit the units, or we can arrange our engineers and partners. We agree the route with you for each fleet.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a speed governor?

In the US, a speed governor is another name for a speed limiter: a device that caps a vehicle’s road speed. It is not the same as an engine RPM governor on a generator or pump.

Do US fleets have to fit speed limiters?

There is no general federal requirement for vans or cars. For heavy trucks, a proposed federal requirement was withdrawn in July 2025. Fleets that use speed limiters do so by choice. Check for any customer, insurer or contract requirements that apply to you.

Is an aftermarket speed limiter better than an engine setting?

An aftermarket speed limiter is independent of the engine’s software, so the cap stays with the fleet owner. The right choice depends on your vehicles and your policy, so tell us what you run.

Can our own technicians fit it?

Fitting is agreed per job. Your own technicians can fit the units, or our engineers and partners can be arranged. Tell us your preference when you ask for a quote.

Does AutoKontrol sell a plug in speed limiter?

Our speed limiters work on the vehicle’s throttle signal or fuel line rather than through a diagnostic port. Tell us your vehicle and we will say which unit fits.

Who supplies AutoKontrol in the US?

US fleets buy through Scorpion, our parent group’s US team. Start with the quote form and we will route your enquiry.

Get a quote for your US fleet

Tell us what you run and how many vehicles, and we will come back with the right unit for each. Request a quote.