Truckers Concerned on New Engines’ Mileage, Journal Reports

Trucking companies are concerned that new emissions rules in effect this year are hurting mileage and their bottom lines, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.

Trucks are getting about a mile per gallon less than previously, which can add up for companies like YRC Worldwide, which has about 20,000 trucks on the road, the paper said.

The paper said that market-leading truck maker Freightliner confirmed that some loss of fuel economy was inevitable in meeting the new standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency, which took effect in January.

Manufacturers have said it would be either too difficult or too expensive to design an engine that has both higher fuel efficiency and puts out less pollution, the paper reported.