The American Trucking Associations has decided to try to convince the federal government to ease up on implementing lower diesel engine emissions regulations set to take effect Oct. 1.

The group’s executive committee voted late last month to push the Bush administration to delay implementing the rules, which were agreed to as part of a 1998 settlement, or consent decree, between the government and engine makers. The lawsuit filed by the federal government against diesel engine makers claimed engine manufacturers manipulated electronic engine controls so their equipment could pass government mandated tests while performing differently under various working conditions. As part of the settlement, engine makers agreed to move up what originally was a 2004 lower emissions standard to this year.
ATA is concerned that its member trucking companies have not had enough time to test the new engines, nor have they had a chance to address concerns about the engines' reliability, increased cost and performance.
The association may have an uphill battle in achieving a postponement, especially in an election year. Such a move on the government's part would likely mean a backlash from environmental groups, who already have attacked the Bush administration as weak on environmental issues.
Pressure from the ATA will more likely achieve results further down the road, when even tougher diesel engine emissions rules are set to take effect in 2007.