The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to release sometime in June its proposed rule on the second round of greenhouse gas regulations (GHG) for heavy trucks. When implemented, this rule will set more requirements for suppliers of heavy trucks, engines, and trailer manufacturers to sell certain technologies to their customers. These technologies will produce annual credits for suppliers which will measure their level of compliance with the new GHG rule.
Environment Canada is expected to duplicate these EPA rules. However, the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) wants to make sure the Canadian requirements include compliance credits for manufacturers that match specific Canadian operating needs and realities that differ from US operations. In formulating their rule, US regulators do not examine the impact the rule has on trucking fleets moving higher weights (over 80,000 pounds); nor do they examine the various multi-axle configurations we have in Canada along with the extreme climate conditions in which these vehicles must operate.
“The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) wants to ensure that the final Environment Canada rule reflects Canadian operating realities and offers credits to vehicle specifications/technology favoured by Canadian fleets. It is also critical that vehicle specifications under the GHG rules are reflective of the diverse Canadian weights and dimension standards for heavy trucks,” said Geoff Wood, CTA VP Operations & Safety.
To capture the full scope of the issues from the front lines and to build off the success of the carrier-supplier workshop held at CTA’s Spring Board meetings, CTA staff, in partnership with the provincial trucking associations, will conduct a series of consultation workshops with carriers and suppliers across the country. Each event will focus on details of regional operating conditions and the preferences carriers have in spec’ing their tractors, engines and trailers from a fuel efficiency perspective. In addition, CTA would like input from the carrier community on what leading edge technologies they are looking at implementing which they would prefer to avoid in the short-to- medium term.
A copy of the participation guide for the workshop is attached so attendees can have an advanced understanding of the concepts that will be discussed.
All input from the workshop series will be captured and consolidated in a CTA position paper on the future of the GHG regulation in Canada and its impact on Canadian heavy truck equipment. This paper will be released in the Fall of 2015.
“This is an opportunity for the trucking industry to get control of future fuel efficiency standards in the Canadian context and advocate for what that the carrier community in Canada wants and needs to maintain their existing operating models. It also sets the stage for future direction on changes to provincial weights and dimension regulations,” added Wood.
Below are the meeting dates confirmed with the provincial trucking associations. Agenda, location, and invitations will be sent by the provincial trucking association.
- British Columbia Trucking Association: May 12, 2015 – 10 a.m. to 12 noon
- Alberta Motor Transport Association: May 13, 2015 – 10 a.m. to 12 noon
- Saskatchewan Trucking Association: May 14, 2015 – 10 a.m. to 12 noon
- Manitoba Trucking Association: Date/times to be determined
- Ontario Trucking Association: May 19, 2015 – 10 am to 12 noon
- Quebec Trucking Association: Date/times to be determined
- Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association: May 22, 2015 – 10 am to 12 noon