PORTLAND, Ore. – Freightliner is preparing to deliver its first trucks with the 2007 EPA-approved engines under the hood.

The company says it will deliver the first of its 2007 engine-equipped tractors by the end of January. The Detroit Diesel Series 60 engine has been EPA-approved, Freightliner officials confirmed. The new engines reduce particulate matter by 95% and NOx by 50% compared to previous engine generations.

“These engines pass the ‘white handkerchief test’ where a white hanky placed over the exhaust pipes of the running truck shows there is no soot or odor emitted. They also demonstrate Freightliner and Detroit Diesel’s commitment to clean air and environmental progress,” says Tim Tindall, director of sales.

Detroit Diesel Series 60 engines meeting the 2007 emissions standards have undergone more than 14 million test miles, 2.5 million of which were conducted in real-world applications, the company says.

“This is the most thoroughly tested engine and vehicle combination that Freightliner LLC has ever released,” Tindall points out.

Trucks built at the company’s St. Thomas, Ont. truck plant are among those that will debut the new environmentally-friendly engines.