While engines altered to meet the Oct. 1, 2002, emissions deadline are causing concern among virtually everyone in the trucking industry, the Environmental Protection Agency's 2007 standards could be cause for even more worry.

That's the consensus of speakers at the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Assn. Dialogue - a national meeting that convenes every two years - in Atlanta this week.
Diesel engines altered to meet the October 2002 deadline are under suspicion among truck buyers because of limited testing in the field. They are predicted to add $3,000 to $5,000 to the cost of a new truck, and there is debate as to whether they will carry fuel economy, durability and maintenance penalties.
There was agreement at the Dialogue that to avoid the new engines, some fleets will opt to: (1) pre-buy new trucks with current engines before October; (2) buy used trucks instead of new; and/or (3) hold on to their current trucks longer. (See Heavy Duty Trucking's February cover story).
Don Kapinski of EPA told the meeting that there are still some legal matters to be resolved concerning the 2002 regulations, which have resulted in all but one engine manufacturer (Caterpillar) using exhaust-gas recirculation (EGR) technology. He said plans to resolve those issues "are under way."
Caterpillar Product Regulation Director John Amdall told the group that Cat's ACERT technology, which uses aftertreatment, will not be ready until 2003. But the company is betting on it as the technology that will meet the tougher 2007 standards.
Cummins Engine Vice President Martha Brooks said that by the October 2002 deadline, 30 of her company's ISX engines with EGR technology will have completed 6.4 million miles of field testing. She said EGR technology will be the base for Cummins meeting the 2007 regulations.
Mack Executive VP Steve Homcha said production pilots of his company's EGR engines were produced in December and will be available to customers in April.
The 2007 EPA regulations involve taking down particulate matter emissions by 99%. NOX emissions are to be reduced by 98.5% by the year 2010. In addition, diesel fuel refiners must reduce sulfur content to virtually zero by 2007.