Fleets Receiving ’07 Engines to Begin On-Highway Testing

ome truck manufacturers have begun to offer fleet customers tractors equipped with engines that meet 2007 emission standards, while others said they would make the test vehicles available soon.

Fleets are getting the 2007 models for testing months later than manufacturers had promised. Carrier executives had expressed concerns with the 2007-model engines’ sharply higher costs, reduced fuel efficiency and unproven technology.

Kirk Altrichter, vice president of maintenance at truckload carrier Gordon Trucking, said he expected to get a test engine from Freightliner in late February or early March. “We would have preferred to have a full year of testing. It has not gone according to plan.”