EPA

The trucking industry says new, tougher-than-expected emission standards for heavy-duty trucks recently announced by the Biden Administration have unachievable targets and will carry real consequences for the U.S. supply chain and movement of freight throughout the economy.

With the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) earlier today rolling out new proposed federal vehicle emissions standards, with a two-fold objective of spurring on the country’s transition to a clean vehicles future and combatting the climate crisis, there is a lot to monitor on that front, especially as it relates to the trucking market, and, by extension, over-the-road supply chain and logistics operations.

The Biden administration is allowing California to set rules phasing out diesel trucks. This has caused an uproar from regional and national trucking groups as well as the Owner-Operator Independent Driver Association (OOIDA) on the expected impact of the rules.

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) expressed what it called its “grave concerns” about media reports that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may be on the verge of granting the state of California waivers to implement potentially harmful and unrealistic emissions rules on the industry. Under California rules, new Class 8 heavy truck models would be zero-emission next year. Diesel and gasoline-powered drayage trucks must retire after 18 years to guarantee that they meet a zero-emission requirement by 2035.

The Biden administration is moving to lessen emissions from heavy trucks and buses in the first federal effort to eliminate smog and pollution from those vehicles since 2001. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is drawing up rules that would remove smog-forming nitrate oxide (NOx) emissions by up to 90% by 2031. The new rule would cover buses, light-duty delivery vans, tractor-trailers and other heavy trucks.

With tightening emissions regulations on their way, fleets have an affordable and proven alternative for zero emissions today.

BMW’s collaboration with South Carolina Ports and Norfolk Southern creates a unique intermodal solution that eliminates truck moves, improves its sustainability efforts and subsequently spurs manufacturing efficiently in a growing region.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced their jointly finalized standards for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles that will augment fuel efficiency and reduce carbon pollution.