A Responsible Dialogue on Reducing Truck Emissions Now
Clean Diesel Choice is committed to promoting the on-road usage of 2007 model year heavy duty diesel engines and enhancing the environment for all Americans. As part of this effort, Clean Diesel Choice is starting a responsible dialogue focusing on the environmental benefits of these engines and future offerings and the economic choices facing truck drivers, the industry, and every American who depends on freight movement for their livelihood.
A MESSAGE FROM AMERICA’S TRUCKING BUSINESS
The trucking business is in a bind.We’re like a lot of others in American business, struggling with rising costs, falling economic conditions, and a painful credit crunch. Added to this is an ongoing burden of all-time-high diesel prices for the fuel we have to buy to keep our trucks in service to customers.
Early results are bad news.More than 2,500 trucking companies have already gone out of business this year.A lot more are shaky.We’re about to be hit with another huge blow that will result in the perfect economic storm, the final phase in of a federal rule to cut diesel emissions in 2010 meaning higher truck costs we can’t afford with an air quality result that was not intended. The rule, which is an incremental addition to a comprehensive regulatory package fully implemented in 2007, means new trucks will contain another iteration of engine technologies. We depend on these machines for our livelihoods and our customers depend them on for the delivery of 85% of all goods sold in the US.
Juggling the economic alternatives, truck buyers will do what we have to do, plan to survive by planning around another costly deadline.As in 2007, fewer trucks will be bought in 2010, resulting in older models continuing to operate. Continuing to operate the older models will mean we are taken off our greening path, as well as the cost-controlling benefit of replenishing our trucks on an orderly basis.It’s a losing proposition.We lose, truck manufacturers lose, the government intent loses and so does the environment.
We support a win-win solution.Let customers have a clean diesel choice by allowing the sale of 2010 and 2007 emissions level trucks in 2010 and 2011.Let us buy the trucks we need, drawing on the proven products built to comply with the 2007 rule while allowing early adopters to become more familiar with the 2010 products.These trucks are green winners. And they cut emissions to virtually zero versus the older models that they will replace. We’re not asking for a bailout.We’re asking for a realistic path so we can keep delivering goods in the best possible trucks—best for transportation and best for clean air.
We don’t need a government bailout.We need a buyer’s choice.
THE "TRUCKING BUSINESS"
The trucking community includes those businesses that manufacture, maintain, and utilize trucks of various capacities including commercial, highway, urban and community vehicles:
