On August 17, 2017, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that they would "revisit" portions of the EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) joint rule on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Phase II.
In its release, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said the EPA will focus on portions of the rule affecting trailers and glider kits. Administrator Pruitt said that the EPA intends to initiate a new rule which "incorporates the latest technical data, and is wholly consistent with our authority under the Clean Air Act."
Though the Truck Renting and Leasing Association (TRALA) had some concerns with the requirements of Phase II and the new mandates it placed on original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and fleet owners, TRALA and its membership supported much of the rule deciding it was essential that a national standard for medium and heavy duty trucks be maintained. TRALA is concerned that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) could use this decision by the EPA and NHTSA as an opportunity to enact a more stringent standard than what was finalized last year.
TRALA President and Chief Executive Officer Jake Jacoby said: "For a national industry to function efficiently, it is imperative that a national standard decided by the federal government is followed, and not a patchwork of states creating their own greenhouse gas standards. As TRALA argued in its comments, our members have a vested interest in reducing emissions and increasing efficiency, and our members have taken a strong interest in adopting more fuel efficient vehicles."
Additionally, TRALA had encouraged the EPA in its comments to work with CARB to avoid an ultra-low Nitrogen Oxide (NoX) standard from being implemented.
TRALA said it understands the concerns of many trailer manufacturers and their opposition to trailers being included in this rule as currently written. That said, TRALA will continue to work with EPA and NHTSA in an attempt to ensure a national standard is adopted. TRALA members will remain at the forefront of purchasing the most advanced, environmentally friendly trucks and trailers placed into service.