The Trucking Industry Might Be Getting a Little Greener Thanks to a New Proposal From the EPA

Vehicles are currently a huge focus when it comes to reducing emissions, and commercial trucks may be the biggest on-road contributors. That’s why the EPA has proposed new changes to trucking emissions standards.
Written by Hannah DeWitt
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Transportation contributes significantly to human-induced climate change, accounting for virtually 28% of greenhouse gas emissions. Freight transport is particularly a major culprit in fossil fuel release. While only 5% of vehicles running on American roads are
commercial trucks
, they account for 24% of the total greenhouse gasses. 
That has prompted the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish stricter rules to control emissions from the trucking industry. Read on to see just what changes could be in store. 

EPA proposes tougher emission rules in the trucking industry

In its massive proposal released on March 7, 2022, the EPA established a new set of regulations to curb greenhouse gas emissions by the heavy-freight transportation sector. According to
Car and Driver
, the new rules aim to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from heavy-duty trucks between 47% and 60% by 2045. 
To achieve that, the EPA will have to ensure that trucks' emission-control systems have higher longevity. Therefore, the agency has proposed two warranty options for heavy-freight trucks, which will take effect starting with the 2027 model year. The first warranty option will cover 2027 to 2030 engines and emission-control systems for seven years or 450,000 miles. 
From 2031 onwards, there'll be a 10-year/600,000-mile warranty for the heavy-truck engines. The second option is a more lenient warranty that will require a five-year/350,000-mile coverage. As per the EPA, the new measures will lead to extended engine longevity, proper engine maintenance, and reduced temptation to tamper with emission-control systems. 
Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds
No spam · No long forms · No fees
Find insurance savings

The trucking industry groups and stakeholders react to the EPA emissions proposal

It was expected that the EPA's new, stricter measures to reduce the trucking sector's emissions would elicit reactions from the industry's associations and other groups. Although they've agreed with the EPA's objective to make heavy-freight transportation a greener industry, they also expressed their concern regarding the proposal's details.
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) lamented that the new EPA emission rules and adjustments do not work in favor of its members. OOIDA said that the proposal would significantly hurt small and mid-sized businesses, and it would've been better if the EPA engaged the OOIDA before announcing the measures. 
The
American Trucking Associations
(ATA) announced their take on the proposal, saying that it supports the Biden administration's goal of reducing emissions, but they would be critical that the proposal results in reliable, usable, and cost-effective equipment. The association would only favor the EPA proposal if it doesn't hurt the reliability of trucks nor imposes unworkable costs on the industry. 

A long way to go to fully deploy hydrogen fuel-cell technology in the trucking sector 

The automotive market has seen a rapid increase in EV production. Even as companies such as Tesla, Nikola, and Hyundai continue to advance innovations to create hydrogen fuel-cell heavy-duty cars, it will take years before internal combustion engines are fully phased out. That's because there are several variables to be considered first. 
Fuel-cell technology is a viable alternative to diesel and can complement vehicle electrification. The only caveat is that the technology is relatively new to the trucking industry, and more research is required for hydrogen-powered engines to be proven in different applications. Thus, trucking companies must optimize the specifications for the intended application and be open to making changes along the way. 
Additionally, governments, advocacy groups, heavy-freight companies, and environmental regulatory bodies are yet to establish a compromise on fully deploying fuel-cell and the best way to achieve net-zero emissions. A lot more legislation and policy-making is required to determine the source and distribution of hydrogen and other factors surrounding the availability of renewable fuel.

Jerry: your trusted partner for stress-free insurance shopping

If you're buying car insurance for the first time, it's understandable to get confused, not knowing where to start. But
Jerry
makes your insurance shopping easy by providing you with several tailored policy options at competitive prices. It's only up to you to choose the most suitable policy based on your needs.
Are you overpaying for car insurance?
Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.
Try Jerry

Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance

√
No long forms
√
No spam or unwanted phone calls
√
Quotes from top insurance companies
Find insurance savings