CTA issues whitepaper calling for Made-in-Canada SMART plan

by Truck News

TORONTO, Ont. – The Canadian Trucking Alliance released a whitepaper today recommending a Made-in-Canada, SMART approach toward implementing the proposed Phase II GHG Reduction Standards and fuel-efficiency regulations for heavy trucks and trailers.

Phase I standards were introduced in 2013 and covered tractors and engines. Phase II encompasses the entire vehicle – tractor, engine and trailer. 

“At no time in our industry’s history have carriers’ economic goals been more aligned with society’s desires in terms of carbon emissions reduction than they are today,” said CTA president David Bradley. “Even with current lower prices, fuel is the second largest operating cost for truck fleets so it is in the industry’s interest to improve fuel economy while also further reducing its carbon footprint.”

CTA said that Environment Canada cannot – as it has done in the past and which it has indicated it is planning to do again — just adopt whatever the US Environmental Protection Agency decides to introduce to the US fleet.

The whitepaper argues that the US fleet is standardized around one configuration whereas in Canada a vast array of much more productive, efficient and innovative multi-axle configurations, trailer body styles, and higher allowable weights are allowed.

“Simply taking the US rule and imposing it on the Canadian fleet would be at odds with the goal of reducing GHG emissions from the sector and would undercut Canada’s superior productivity and environmental advantages developed over the past 40 years,” said Bradley. “It would force equipment on Canadian carriers that is potentially either unsuitable or untested for Canadian conditions and which could expose Canadian drivers to unsafe situations.”

CTA is encouraging the introduction of a SMART Approach to the GHG regulation:

Safe

Managed

Adaptable

Reliable

Tested

You can download the full whitepaper  here


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