OTTAWA, Ont. — The Canadian Trucking Alliance is calling upon the federal Minister of Finance to include tax incentives in his next budget that will help to boost the penetration of the new smog-free trucks into the marketplace.

The proposed measures, which could include accelerated capital cost allowances or investment tax credits for the near-zero emission heavy trucks, and tax credits for environmentally efficient equipment such as wide-based tires and aerodynamic devices, are consistent with the proposals contained in CTA’s action plan for a Made-In-Canada Clean Air Act.

“There is a glorious opportunity to accelerate the environmental benefits of the new generation of ultra-clean heavy trucks by helping to offset the hefty increase in cost from purchasing the new equipment,” said David Bradley, CEO of the trucking alliance.

CTA also repeats its call for a reinstatement of the Natural Resources Canada rebate program (and an increase in the rebate from 19% of the purchase price to 50%) for auxiliary power units, which help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In addition, CTA included two proposals for non-environmental measures in its pre-budget submission: the need to reinvest more of the money collected in federal gasoline and diesel fuel taxes into a national highway and border infrastructure fund and restoring the meal tax deductibility limit for truck drivers to 80% from 50%.

CTA will take its case to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance on Sept. 19 in Ottawa.