The American Trucking Associations urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to prevent the California Air Resources Board (ARB) from implementing performance standards for engines used to cool refrigerated tractor-trailers
because they require trucks nationwide to comply with California-specific regulations.
ATA, in comments filed with the EPA, said the impacts of California's new engine emission regulations would extend far beyond the state's borders. The requirement will force nearly 340,000 refrigerated tractor-trailers nationwide to comply with California regulations, regardless of the amount of time spent operating in the state.
This number, which is 30 times greater than ARB assumed in its original estimate, will require 75 percent of the total refrigerated tractor-trailers outside of California to either be retrofitted, scrapped, or replaced with new equipment during the life of the rule. The California Trucking Association and ATA's Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference also filed comments.
"ARB's request goes beyond the authority afforded California under the Federal Clean Air Act," said Glen Kedzie, ATA assistant general and environmental counsel. "This rule is contrary to the very intent of Congress under the act by effectively creating a new national engine emissions standard."
ATA also said the regulation will cost the motor carrier industry between $775 million and $1.4 billion. ARB estimated costs would range between $87 million and $156 million.
ARB in February 2004 adopted the regulation requiring any diesel engine used to power refrigerated trucks operating in the state to meet stringent California-only standards before the end of 2008. To comply with the rule, ARB said that fleets could retrofit existing refrigerated units, replace existing engines, establish a seven-year trade-in cycle, or create California-only refrigerated fleets.
Most long-haul trucking companies operating refrigerated units, however, service the entire country or a major geographic region, placing the burden of the regulatory requirement primarily on engines located outside the state.
ARB's regulation comes at a time when the trucking industry will be confronted with new diesel engine technologies mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce engine emissions beginning in 2007.