New Engine Testing Smoother Than in 2002, Fleet Officials Say

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s the federal government begins its certification process of 2007 diesel truck engines, fleet executives who have worked with test vehicles said the current switchover process is proceeding more smoothly than it did in October 2002, the last time the Environmental Protection Agency altered emission regulations.

The federal agency already has filings from Caterpillar Inc., Detroit Diesel Corp., Mack Trucks and Volvo Trucks North America, and expects more from other original equipment manufacturers. The fleet executives said the OEMs did more of their own testing this time, but said they still regret that their fleets did not have more time with the prototype models.

An executive with truckload giant Schneider National said

he OEMs his company uses “have done a lot more testing of the equipment this time. They’re sharing more information — and that’s been helpful, but what has been similar to ’02 is that there’s been very limited testing by fleets.