Editorial: Trucking and the Drive for Cleaner Air

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n case there were lingering doubts, American Trucking Associations President Bill Graves last week emphatically stated the industry’s commitment to do its part, without stint, in the war on air pollution.

“The trucking industry is proud of the role we have played over the past two decades to dramatically improve the quality of our nation’s air. ATA strongly supports the goals of providing a cleaner and healthier environment,” Graves said in a speech during a seminar hosted by the Japan International Institute in Washington Nov. 17.

In his speech, trucking’s most prominent spokesman detailed the initiatives trucking has taken in cleaning up the environment, many of them in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency.

Graves also took the opportunity to address claims from some environmental groups that trucking in general, and ATA in particular, were planning an attempt to derail the next round of reductions in exhaust emissions.

“I can tell you without reservation that ATA does not intend to challenge EPA’s diesel-engine emission standards set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2007,” Graves said.

He said the industry was much more concerned when the standards were changed in 2002 on an accelerated schedule that left inadequate time for engine makers to fully test their new technologies. Fleets discovered problems as they were trying to earn revenue with the redesigned equipment.

Graves said, “2007 appears to be a different scenario completely. Engine manufacturers remain on schedule to have test engines in the hands of motor carriers well in advance of” the new regulations.

“We do remain concerned about reliability of the engines and a potential loss of fuel economy,” he said, “but these questions do not rise to the level of needing a delay in the rule.”

He urged the federal government to consider offering financial incentives that would encourage fleets to purchase the new engines as soon as they come off production lines.

Graves noted that “truckers aren’t required to buy the new engines” just because they are available. Indeed, in 2002, many fleets stocked up on old-technology engines before the deadline, and others kept running their existing equipment longer than usual.

Incentives could convince fleets to buy the next generation of engines immediately.

“If nobody buys the engines and they aren’t on the roads, what benefit is there for the environment?” Graves asked.

EPA and some members of Congress have signaled an interest in providing some incentives to fleets. We believe it would be good for all if such incentives are implemented.

This story appeared in the Nov. 22 edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today

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