With the EPA’s stricter emission standards for 2010 looming on the horizon, there are still a great many points on which major manufacturer’s disagree, and these points only lead to greater confusion among fleet buyers who will have to make upgrades to meet the new standards.
Chief among these points of contention are which system is more effective and efficient, and whether the industry should rally to press for a delay in implementing the tighter restrictions.
A spokesman of Navistar Inc. said that a “coalition is building” around the company’s call to the incoming Obama administration to ease 2010 emissions mandates, but the Environmental Protection Agency has said its tightened standards would go into effect without delays.
Navistar spokesman Roy Wiley has said that a plan was being put into place to ask the government to allow truck manufacturers to sell clean ’07 technology engines alongside 2010 ones. But the EPA said there would be no changes, with the implementation of new standards going smoothly and remaining on track.
Meanwhile, officials of several other major manufacturers issued fresh rejections of Navistar’s plan, as did the association of American Truck Dealers. But executives of some large fleets have said they liked the idea of delaying the 2010 implementation, and the National Association of Small Trucking Companies joined the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association to support Navistar
Navistar, which builds International Trucks and MaxxForce engines, is the only manufacturer that plans to use exhaust gas recirculation to meet EPA’s mandate to cut nitrogen oxide emissions severely in 2010. All other engine makers, including independent manufacturer Cummins Inc., will use selective catalytic reduction.
Those behind the proposed delay are supporting that the move on the grounds current economic conditions, which did not exist at the time the coming restrictions were approved, will create or exacerbate financial strains on fleets forced to make major upgrades at a time when revenues are down and budgets are tight.
To find out how Diligent can help fleet operators reduce or avoid some of the costs and confusion related to the 2010 emissions standards, contact us.