OTTAWA — To help boots the purchase of 2007, low emission, smog-free trucks in the market place, the Canadian Trucking Alliance is calling upon the federal Minister of Finance to include tax incentives for truckers that get behind the wheel of an ’07, in his next budget.

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.

The trucking industry is bracing for downturn in truck sales, as many carrier pre-bought existing equipment this year in advance of the 2007 engines, which are mandated by the environmental Protection agency, starting Jan. 1, 2007.

“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 the CEO of the trucking alliance, David Bradley.

CTA also repeats its call for a reinstatement of the Natural Resources Canada rebate program (and an increase in the rebate from 19 percent of the purchase price to 50 percent) 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 percent from 50 percent.

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