Medium, Heavy Truck Fuel Economy Standards Deadline Set For March 2016

Cameron Aubernon
by Cameron Aubernon

Before a gathering at a distribution warehouse in Maryland, United States President Barack Obama announced that his administration has set March 2016 as the deadline for the next round of fuel efficiency and emissions standards for medium and heavy trucks to meet compliance.

Bloomberg reports President Obama’s latest initiative — part of his overall strategy regarding energy security and climate change — will bring “thousands of dollars of savings every year” for truck operators while also benefiting the economy via lower costs for consumer goods and new technology development. Both the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding the new standards by March 2015.

Industry groups in general were supportive of the announcement, which will also see manufacturers working with the federal government on bringing new trucks up to the new standards, though American Trucking Association president Bill Graves urged the Obama administration to proceed with caution by setting forth a path “that is both based on the best science and research available and economically achievable.”

Moving forward from 2016, the next set of standards to come into force by 2018 and beyond will see the industry aggressively use technology — especially in the use of aerodynamics — to meet the fuel economy standards set at that time,.

Cameron Aubernon
Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

More by Cameron Aubernon

Comments
Join the conversation
5 of 89 comments
  • U mad scientist U mad scientist on Feb 19, 2014

    It's noteworthy to those shocked at 54mpg for trucks or whatever to remind themselves how averages work and that there's more than one standard for fuel economy at play. http://www.edmunds.com/autoobserver-archive/2009/05/when-cafe-meets-epa-a-tale-of-two-fuel-economy-standards.html

  • RogerB34 RogerB34 on Feb 19, 2014

    An unmitigated Class 8 truck disaster in the making with real economic and employment impact.

  • CRConrad CRConrad on Feb 20, 2014

    Is that thing in the illustration for real, or a piece of CGI that's escaped from a "steampunk"-inspired movie?!? It looks *exactly* as if it came out of some hatch on the Nautilus to refuel captain Nemo's six-wheeled monstrosity from _The Leaugue of Extraordinary Gentlemen_. It *should* be a joke, but... I take it this is the Peterbilt or Kenworth or whatever that thousands of American truckers actually ride around the nation's highways in? Sheesh.

    • CRConrad CRConrad on Feb 20, 2014

      Oops, sorry, should have read the comments first. OK, so not a Pete or Ken. Still hideous. "Only in America".

  • Shaker Shaker on Feb 20, 2014

    That's the least manly big-rig I've ever seen (shakes head). OH WOE IS AMERICA, OH WOE IS ME.

Next