Trucking Still Totaling Clean-Engine Costs

img src="/sites/default/files/images/articles/printeditiontag_new.gif" width=120 align=right>FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Trucking has made great strides toward implementing the start of a historic three-part emissions overhaul, but is still adding up the costs of its efforts, a host of experts told a room full of fleet executives.

About 1,100 trucking representatives at the Diesel Engine Emissions Summit II here on March 16 heard that fleets were paying more for their engines, suffering declines in fuel economy and enduring more breakdowns, thanks to the initial phase of standards that took effect in October 2002.

And those costs could rise before the next phase in 2007, the experts warned.