Clean Truck Program

There is a new opportunity for third party logistics companies and warehouse facilities to provide additional services to clients that cannot afford to comply with the 2007 Clean Truck Guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The EPA has set the monumental task of cleaning up the 8,000,000 trucks that do not comply with the new clean truck program. The new regulation sets forth the requirement that diesel trucks must reduce the toxic emissions, which consists of sulfur oxide, ozone forming nitrogen oxide in the air. This will affect both private and public flees.
The goal is to eliminate trucks that are huger polluters by replacing them with clean, green vehicles that are 80% cleaner by 2012.

This will be accomplished in phases
By October 2008, no trucks will be allowed in the marine terminals that are model year 1988 or older. By 2010, the ports will prohibit trucks to enter ports that are model year 1989 – 1993 engine and 94-2003 trucks that are not retrofitted with the approved diesel emission controls.
Currently, the marine terminal operators assess a fee on any truck that does not meet EPA regulations. The fee is charged on loaded import and export containers only and consists of $35 per 20-foot container and $70 per 40-45-foot-container.

Several options exist that will help you meet the EPA standards. These include retrofitting the truck with emissions reducing technology, replacing the engine with a new one, purchasing new trucks that meet or exceed the emissions requirements. This option will allow you to utilize a third party logistics service that can provide trucks and drivers for you if you cannot afford to fork out the capital.

Sources:
Epa.gov: National Clean Diesel Campaign
3plnews:Natinal Retail Systems…