Carriers Request Delay of ’07 Engine Deadline

HOENIX — Top executives of leading truckload carriers called for the government to delay its 2007 deadline for stricter diesel emission rules, saying they would need tax incentives to help cover costs of buying the next generation of heavy-duty trucks and engines.

Three of four carriers on a panel at last week’s Diesel Engine Emissions Summit said they were still avoiding new-model trucks with engines designed to meet the October 2002 emissions standard, and said they might do the same with engines coming for the 2007 rules.

All four executives called for a delay in implementing the next round of emissions reductions and asked for help in covering the costs of new equipment purchases. The carriers were in the last of six panels that were part of the emissions summit.