President Obama announced this morning new regulations establishing for the first time fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction standards applicable to medium- and heavy-duty trucks. This rulemaking was mandated by a 2007 law passed by Congress and an Executive Order issued by President Obama in May 2010.
Under the comprehensive new national program, trucks and buses built in 2014 through 2018 will reduce oil consumption by a projected 530 million barrels and greenhouse gas pollution by approximately 270 million metric tons.
Trucks will be divided into three major categories: combination tractors (semi-trucks), heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans, and vocational vehicles. Within each of those categories, specific targets will be detailed based on the design and purpose of the vehicle.
By the 2018 model year, the program is expected to achieve significant savings relative to current levels, across vehicle types. Certain combination tractors will be required to achieve up to approximately 20 percent reduction in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by model year 2018.
For heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans, separate standards are required for gasoline-powered and diesel trucks. These vehicles will be required to achieve up to approximately 15 percent reduction in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by model year 2018.
Vocational vehicles - including delivery trucks, buses, and garbage trucks - will be required to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 10 percent by model year 2018.
The NTEA has taken an active role in this issue on behalf of the work truck industry since Congress began consideration of a corporate average fuel economy proposal for trucks in 2006. We have consistently made clear that vocational/work trucks needed to be regulated very differently than long-haul tractors.
The NTEA will provide more in-depth analysis of these new rules as they become available.