The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) is calling on Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to address mounting concerns it hears from OEMs and dealers over the impact of current greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions regulations on the availability of vocational trucks across Canada.

In a recent letter to ECCC, the CTA highlighted how federal heavy-duty vehicle and engine GHG emission regulations fail to account for the unique operational needs of industries such as heavy-haul and over-dimensional applications, agriculture, mining, forestry, and oil and gas.

According to OEMs and supplier members, while these vehicles are scored more favorably from a GHG credit and regulatory perspective to allow OEMs to meet their requirements under these regulations, the rules are also forcing manufacturers to offer equipment ill-suited to these demanding applications, making it dangerous for drivers to operate in vocational settings, among other concerns.

The CTA warned the issue could also lead to a shortage of appropriate equipment, potentially causing delays in completing infrastructure projects, adding to supply chain instability.

To address the issue, the alliance recommends several measures, including: pausing the rollout of Phase 3 GHG regulations; halting current targets at the 2024 model year under Phase 2; revising technologies and credits provided to OEMs in Phase 2 of the regulations; and recalculating their impact considering the positive improvements. It also urged regulators to consider full life-cycle emissions reductions from transitional fuels and technologies.

“A reasonable solution to this issue must be implemented, as these regulations are leading to illogical, highly inefficient, and inflationary practices while doing nothing to reduce emissions in the process,” said CTA president Stephen Laskowski in a news release. “We look forward to working with ECCC and the new federal environment minister in the coming weeks to ensure emissions reductions can be realized in our sector, but in a more pragmatic, realistic and operationally feasible manner for all.”