California dreamin’ or is the rest of the continent asleep?

OTTAWA — Environmental impacts were hardly a concern in the 1980’s when truck weights and dimensions rules were adopted across Canada, but times have change.

The standards of the ‘80s, which are still the basis of today’s allowable configurations in Canada, were adopted with a focus by highway engineers on infrastructure issues and safety. While the standards continue to serve the country well for the most part, they have at times been an obstacle to the introduction of new technologies and devices that are proven to improve fuel efficiency, and therefore reduce GHG emissions.

However, a revolutionary GHG reduction regulation from the State of California could be the catalyst to get the Canadian jurisdictions to begin thinking green and working in earnest on initiatives like enviroTruck, says the Canadian Trucking Alliance.

"If they don’t," cautions 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."

The California regulation comes into effect in 2010. There will be specific phased in requirements for existing tractor and trailer equipment up to 2010 model year, and specific requirements after that for all tractor and trailer equipment 2011 model year and newer.

Existing tractors and trailers up to 2010 model year will require retrofits with U.S. EPA SmartWay approved technologies (tractors will require low rolling resistance tires and trailers both low rolling resistance tires and aerodynamic components).

New tractors, 2011 model year and newer, must be SmartWay certified. Trailers 2011 model year and newer, must either be SmartWay certified from the manufacturer, or be equipped with SmartWay registered technology. The enforcement net will involve all in the supply chain but as is always the case the bulk of the responsibility will fall on the carrier community.

Over the last couple of years, CTA and the provincial trucking associations have been trying to encourage the use of these technologies and devices — such as tractor and trailer aerodynamic fairings and fuel efficient wide base single tires — through the enviroTruck initiative.

One of the impediments, beyond costs, to the accelerated penetration of this equipment into the marketplace has been that the current vehicle standards do not necessarily accommodate the added weight or different dimensions of the new technologies. According to the CTA, the process for amendments in Canada is extremely cumbersome since each province has to first agree and then change its own standards.

CTA is urging the Canadian Council of Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety and the Council of Minister of the Environment to conduct an immediate review of Canadian provincial weights and dimensions standards to remove obstacles to incorporating GHG reducing technology into the Canadian fleet.

Bradley says the Canadian governments need to work with industry to develop a concerted and coordinated package of investment incentives to accelerate the penetration of the new vehicles into the marketplace.

"Cash, credit and capital are all extremely tight," he says. "California, the U.S. EPA and a number of states offer various incentive programs that U.S. carriers can take advantage of. Some Canadian provinces and Transport Canada also have modest and limited programs, but are pale in comparison to what is needed to make the transition."
 


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