New heavy truck mileage, emission rules could save ag companies

Diesel-powered trucks can provide an answer to reducing reliance on foreign oil, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) when issuing final rules Tuesday establishing a national program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and new fuel efficiency standards.

The Diesel Technology Forum is a non-profit national organization that issued its support for the new EPA rules that establish new fuel efficiency standards for commercial trucks and buses beginning in 2014 through 2018.

It has been noted that 95 percent of America’s commercial trucks and 85 percent of its buses are diesel engine powered. Ag retailers, ag product distributors, grain haulers and farmers have a large number of trucks, which will eventually be replaced with higher efficiency trucks as manufacturers make improvements.

If the example of Tier 4 compliant engines being placed in ag equipment, such as self-propelled applicators and spreaders, are any example, the new truck engines could save ag companies substantially. AGCO Corporation with its new Tier 4 interim-compliant 8.4 liter diesel engine with e3 SCR technology will reportedly average 17 percent less fuel consumption compared with non-SCR engines.  

“This landmark new rule envisions diesel power as the continued workhorse of freight transportation in the clean energy economy of tomorrow,” said Allen Schaeffer, the executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum, which is an organization that describes itself as dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of diesel engines, fuel and technology.

“The goals set out in these new regulations build on past progress in making diesel clean, and demand further gains in diesel engine efficiency. The U.S. fleet of trucks consumes about 22 billion gallons of diesel fuel every year. Over the lifetime of the vehicles affected by the new rule, the program is expected to reduce oil consumption by more than 500 million barrels, result in more than $50 billion in net benefits, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 250 million metric tons.”

It was noted that an average tractor trailer fully loaded today typically achieves anywhere from 5.0 to 7.0 miles per gallon, and the cost of diesel fuel is higher in cost than regular gasoline. EPA considers anything more than 8,500 pounds maximum weight as a heavy-duty vehicle.