Freightliner Chief Cites Possible Order Surge

Freightliner’s chief executive officer gave credence Tuesday to speculation that some fleets may be ordering new trucks early in order to finesse the Environmental Protection Agency’s Oct. 1 deadline for lower emissions from heavy-duty engines.

Speaking to reporters at the Phoenix unveiling of the company’s new business class models, Rainer Schmueckle, president and chief executive officer, said, “There have been some indications of accelerated purchasing.”

Calling the EPA deadline the “most critical event” facing the truck manufacturing industry, Schmueckle observed that there has been “much talk” about a surge of orders for 2002 trucks with current model engines.

However, he said, “it is too soon to tell” – echoing an earlier assessment of a Volvo spokesman contacted by Transport Topics.

The EPA is requiring that engines made after Oct. 1 may not emit more than 2.5 grams of nitrogen oxides per brake-horsepower hour.

Only one engine maker, Caterpillar, has said it cannot make the Oct. 1 deadline and has asked for an extension -- which the EPA denied.

However, some trucking companies have expressed concern about ordering trucks with the new engines because of concerns about performance and reliability.

Some have said they might buy used trucks with pre-deadline engines and some have indicated they might accelerate their purchasing.

8514