TORONTO, Ont. — The Environmental Commissioner of Ontario (ECO) has issued a report on the province’s progress in conserving energy which the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) says makes a good case for incentives for adopting fuel-saving technologies.

The report acknowledges the trucking industry has made progress in reducing its fuel consumption and agreed with the OTA position that the trucking industry should receive financial incentives to adopt energy-efficient technologies and also that greater harmonization is required throughout Canada to make it more feasible to operate fuel-efficient equipment.

“Without financial incentives, fuel efficient technologies can be too costly for fleet managers,” the report read. ” In truck transport, the regulatory inconsistency on codes and standards between jurisdictions can also act as a barrier. The varying degree of stringency can make compliance complex and adopting new technologies a risk.” 

The OTA applauded the report for backing its position that the industry needs incentives to implement fuel-saving technologies.

“If the Ontario trucking industry is going to overcome regulatory barriers to GHG improvements imposed by other provinces, we are going to continue to need the support of the government of Ontario. The province has shown domestic leadership; it must continue to show leadership on the national stage,” said OTA president David Bradley.

Now, the OTA is calling for the national adoption of fuel-saving initiatives already adopted in Ontario, including the mandatory use of speed limiters and the harmonization of wide-base single tire weight allowances.