On October 25, 2010, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held a joint press conference to announce their proposed standards for fuel economy and emissions for medium and heavy-duty trucks and buses. The new rules will cover model years 2014 to 2018.
The new standards were created in compliance with an order signed by President Obama in May, 2010. No order of this kind had ever been issued by a president in the past. It required the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the EPA to work together to create a rule that would set limits on fuel consumption emissions for new, large commercial vehicles from the model year 2014 forward.
The proposed rule is set to be finalized in July, 2011. It is expected to improve fuel efficiency from 7% to 20% over current levels depending on the type of vehicle, and reduce carbon emissions by 10% in gasoline engines and 15% in diesel.
The trucking industry prefers this approach over the alternative of raising fuel prices. Consumers are likely to benefit from this as well. Costs to the trucking industry always trickle down to higher prices for goods, and often equate to safety problems as trucking companies try to make up for the expenses by cutting corners.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a trucking accident, please contact ustoday. Your initial consultation is free, and we work on a contingency fee basis so you don’t pay unless you get paid.
