On May 25, Tri-County International was proud to host the U.S. EPA Region 5 (Great Lakes Region) along with the American Truck Dealers Association for a facility tour and informal discussion about how upcoming commercial truck emissions guidance may impact dealerships and end users of heavy duty vehicles. On the agenda was a facility tour and a discussion regarding how dealerships currently sell and service diesel powered vehicles, and further discussion about the training, change management, and infrastructure investments needed to sell and service zero emissions vehicles (ZEV) in the future.

The Tri-County leadership team was joined by ATD President Laura Perrotta, ATD Chairman Scott McCandless, and ATD NextGen Chairman Korey Neal to welcome the EPA contingent which made up the bulk of their standards and policy team.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed new emissions standards for heavy-duty trucks that would have a significant impact on the commercial truck industry. The new standards, which would take effect in 2027, would require trucks to reduce their emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) by 80% and 90%, respectively.

EPA Phase 1 GHG standards were implemented from 2014-2018. Phase 2 standards were started in 2021 and will be fully phased in by 2027.  Phase 3 standard compliance will begin in 2027 and will be fully implemented in by 2032.  The Phase 3 proposal is based on the

EPA’s analysis of the following:

• HD ZEV market
• Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
• Actions by states including the Multi-State Medium and HD MOU signed by 17 states, along with California’s Advanced Clean Trucks program which has been adopted by 8 additional states

The EPA is aware of the concerns of the commercial truck industry and through dealership and other visits, and is working with the industry to address these concerns. The EPA is committed to ensuring that the new emissions standards are fair and that they do not harm the competitiveness of the U.S. commercial truck industry. It is important to note that the proposed GHG Phase 3 standards are not a ZEV mandate, and that the proposed standards align with and support the commitments and investments from trucking fleets, vehicle manufacturers, and US states.

The EPA estimates that the new standards will reduce GHG emissions from heavy-duty trucks by 29% by 2045. This would be a significant step forward in the fight against climate change, as heavy-duty trucks are a major source of GHG emissions in the United States. The new standards are also expected to reduce smog-forming pollutants from heavy-duty trucks by 48% by 2045. This would improve air quality and reduce the risk of respiratory problems for people living near major highways.

The commercial truck industry is concerned about the cost of complying with the new standards. The EPA estimates that the cost of compliance could range from $1.5 billion to $3 billion per year. The industry is also concerned about the availability of technologies that can meet the new standards.

The commercial truck industry is a vital part of the U.S. economy. Trucks transport goods across the country, and they play a critical role in the supply chain. The industry employs millions of people, and it generates billions of dollars in revenue annually.

The EPA's proposed emissions standards are currently still in the rulemaking process. The public has until June 13, 2023 to comment on the proposed standards. The EPA is expected to finalize the standards in 2024. Click here to find out more about the proposed emissions standards and participate in the public comments.

Click images to enlarge.