The U.S. government and the trucking industry are expanding their initiative to roll out safer and more fuel-efficient heavy-duty trucks and buses,
according to the Detroit Free Press. The initiative is aimed at reducing emissions and dependence on foreign oil.
At the start of a two-day transportation conference in Dearborn, Mich., this week, U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham gave details of the program, dubbed "The New Vision for the 21st Century Truck Partnership." The expanded partnership will encourage the development of new engines that use advanced fuels, improve the safety and security of heavy-duty trucks and create technologies to reduce engine idling. The agreement builds on a previous collaboration between the government and the truck makers.
Through the expanded program, the government and the truck makers will continue to share information, but the parties will do so in a more effective way, said David Garman, assistant secretary of energy. The new version of the program has increased the number of trucking-related companies involved from nine to 16. The new program has also includes a broader spectrum of trucking-related companies, including engine manufacturers and automakers, he said.
"The goals will be developed in a more collaborative way," Garman said. "In the first program, some of the things were conceived in the White House and thrust on the private sector."
One example of that was a goal that aimed to triple the fuel efficiency of heavy trucks by the end of the decade, Garman said.
"That was picked out of thin air," he added.
The 16 companies involved with the partnership include General Motors Corp., DaimlerChrysler AG, Allison Transmission and engine manufacturers Detroit Diesel Corp., Caterpillar Inc. and Cummins Inc.
Other members include Mack Truck, Volvo Truck, Freightliner LLC, Honeywell, Eaton, BAE Systems, Nova BUS, Oshkosh and Paccar Inc. Detroit Diesel Corp., Freightliner LLC, Volvo Trucks North America Inc., General Motors Corp. and Allison Transmission.
The trucking companies and the government -- which includes the departments of Energy, Transportation and Defense -- will share equally in the cost of research and development in most cases, Garman said.
Abraham said the parties haven't established a budget for the truck program yet.
Ludvik Koci, who recently retired as chief executive officer of Detroit Diesel, also said the expanded program should help foster better relationships between the trucking industry and the government.
"I think if we work together along the lines, this has promise," Koci said.
"Developing technologies before saying 'Now you must buy it,' will help tremendously."
Creating more efficient heavy trucks will be key in protecting the environment and promoting national security, given their reliance on petroleum, Abraham said. U.S. highway transportation is more than 97% dependent on petroleum for its energy source, with about one-quarter consumed by heavy-duty vehicles, according to the Department of Energy.
The trucking industry is also a major element of the economy, he said, hauling more than two-thirds of all freight tonnage in the United States and accounting for about 88 cents of every dollar spent on freight transportation.
Spencer also announced Tuesday a National Hydrogen Energy Roadmap, which will work on developing an infrastructure for the fuel. Through that program, the government and industry will develop plans for hydrogen storage, delivery and production.