Officials Delay Engine Test

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he federal government and the state of California have agreed to delay enforcement of a controversial “in-use” diesel-engine test to determine if emission levels are greater than what the engine was certified to produce.

The in-use, or “not-to-exceed,” provision was part of the landmark 1998 consent decree between the government and several engine manufacturers.

The agreement, which the Engine Manufacturers Association announced June 11, postponed the engine test requirement until 2007. Originally it would have gone into effect in 2004.

Manufacturers had tried to block enforcement of in-use testing as impractical and trucking industry representatives said the agreement raises questions about who will be responsible if tested engines fail to meet emissions standards.

However, the settlement “was the best of a situation that was not a good situation to begin with,” said Patrick Charbonneau, chief technical officer of International Truck & Engine, in an interview with Transport Topics June 18.

For the full story, see the June 30 edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.