Cap-and-trade will hurt trucking industry: ATA

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) has told a Congressional committee that cap-and- trade emissions programs will be damaging to the trucking industry and consumers.

Tommy Hodges, ATA first vice-chairman, said a cap-and-trade scheme included in the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 will increase fuel prices and jeopardize the economic viability of trucking companies.

“Fleets are extremely sensitive to rapidly shifting operating costs given thin operating margins,” said Hodges. “These margins continue to be chipped away, given the numerous and unprecedented costs being imposed upon the industry to reduce emissions from trucks.”

The ATA contends that mobile sources, such as commercial trucks, should be treated differently than traditional stationary sources of carbon emissions as part of any carbon reduction regulatory program.

CTA urges feds to encourage use of green technologies

The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) is eyeing California’s stringent emissions rules for heavy-duty trucks and suggesting Canada follow suit or risk having its trucks banned from the Golden State.

The Alliance has told the feds that Canada’s weights and dimensions laws should be revisited to allow for greenhouse gas-reducing technologies. Referring to California’s greenhouse gas reduction regulations as “revolutionary,” the CTA said Canada should react by working towards embracing the CTA’s enviroTruck concept.

“If they don’t,” warns CTA CEO, David Bradley, “at the very least Canadian trucks could be barred from operating into and out of California which accounts for $37 billion in two-way trade with Canada, and further delaying significant GHG improvement in Canada.”

Specifically, California’s regulation comes into effect in 2010 and will phase in requirements for existing tractors and trailers with model years up to 2010. Afterwards, there will be further requirements for tractors built after 2011.

Tractors and trailers of model year 2010 and before will require retrofits with SmartWayapproved technologies such as low rolling resistance tires and aerodynamic components. New tractors and trailers, model year 2011 and newer, will have to be SmartWay-certified to operate in California.