Editorial: The Road to the Engine Emissions Summit

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lanning for the Diesel Engine Emissions Summit on June 10 in Phoenix is moving forward at a rapid pace. Many industry executives have agreed to serve as panelists and advance registration is mounting.

The one-day summit, which will occur in the midst of the Technology & Maintenance Council’s summer meeting, is designed to prepare the industry for the major changes that will be coming to diesel fuel and engines in 2006, 2007 and 2010. The session is being organized by TMC and Transport Topics Publishing Group.

A New York meeting last week sponsored by Bear, Stearns & Co. underscored the concern and uncertainty within the trucking industry that the new rules have generated.

“Right now the rumors are ugly,” said Ken Vieth of ACT Research, which tracks heavy-duty truck sales. He predicted that the new engines could add $10,000 to the cost of a truck and reduce fuel economy another 5%, beyond the losses caused by the October 2002 engines that were recently mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Gerald L. Detter, CEO of Con-Way Transportation Services, told the meeting that it was still “too early to tell” how the October engines will fare, but he said the 2007 mandate “really concerns us.”

And that’s why you need to join us in Phoenix next month.

So far, several industry executives have agreed to share their knowledge and their concerns at the Diesel Engine Emissions Summit.

The CEOs of three of the four major heavy-duty truck manufacturing groups — Rainer Schmueckle of Freightliner, Michel Gigou of Volvo and Daniel Ustian of Navistar International — will serve on a panel, as will executives from all of the major engine manufacturing companies.

Jeffrey R. Holmstead, assistant administrator for air and radiation at EPA, will give a summary of the coming regulations at the start of the summit, while ATA President Bill Graves will open the event with an industry overview.

Donald J. Schneider, chairman of Schneider National, the largest U.S. truckload carrier, will serve on a panel to provide carrier perspectives on what is needed to prepare for the new fuels and engines.

Key officials from related areas, such as lubricant makers and fuel distribution companies, have also signed on.

As our advertising campaign has stated: “You need to attend this meeting.”

We hope to see you in Phoenix.

This story appeared in the May 19 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.

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