The trucking industry reaffirmed its support of national fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emission standards for heavy- and medium-duty trucks while testifying in Chicago Monday at the first of two federal public hearings on the subject.
The meeting was conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is part of the Department of Transportation.
The two last month released proposals for greater fuel efficiency, including a plan to cut emissions from large trucks by 7% to 20% by 2017 depending on the size and of the truck and the way it is used. (Click here for previous story.)
Speaking on behalf of American Trucking Associations, and the Illinois Trucking Association, ITA Associate Director Randy Thomas said the industry was “pleased to see that the rules address four of ATA’s six proactive recommendations for reducing the trucking industry’s carbon footprint contained in its 2008 sustainability plan.”
Those include reducing greenhouse gases and improving fuel efficiency by reducing and governing truck speeds; decreasing idling; implementing national fuel efficiency standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks that are both economically and technologically feasible; and using off-the-shelf technologies to increase fuel efficiency verified by EPA under its SmartWay program, which trucking has endorsed and participated in since its inception in 2004, he said.
“With over 2,800 total partners driving over 650,000 trucks traveling over 60 billion miles per year, SmartWay partners have saved over 15 million metric tons of [carbon dioxide], 1.5 billion gallons of diesel fuel, and over $3.5 billion in fuel costs since 2004,” Thomas said.
While trucking supports the proposed rules and, it wants to ensure the avoidance of any “unintended consequences,” including possible increased braking distances associated with some fuel-efficient tires, particularly on rainy or icy pavement, he said.
“We trust that both agencies will explore these two areas of concern further to ensure we avoid any such unintended consequences,” Thomas added.
The Massachusetts Motor Transportation Association will submit written comments in conjunction with ATA on the proposed rules to EPA and NHTSA prior to the next hearing, to be held Thursday in Cambridge, Mass.
