Canadian Trucking Alliance Calls for Environmental Incentives in Next Budget

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he Canadian Trucking Alliance has announced recommendations urging Canada’s federal Minister of Finance to include incentives in his next budget to help the nation’s trucking industry cope with increased costs related to new fuel and emission regulations, the trucking group said Tuesday.

The proposed measures include an increased capital cost allowance rate for the new lower-emission truck engines that will come onto the market in 2007, in addition to an investment tax credit program to facilitate the introduction of such environmentally-friendly technologies as wide-based tires, aerodynamic improvements and engine speed-limiters.

A capital cost allowance refers to a rate of depreciation used for income tax purposes. A higher CCA rate allows for a greater yearly deduction based on the cost of an asset to compensate for its devaluation over time.

In addition, CTA called on the Canadian government to increase the discount offered by its In-Cab Heating and Cooling Device Rebate program to 50% from 19%.

The group will take its case to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance on Sep. 19 in Ottawa, CTA said in a statement.