TORONTO– The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to release its proposed rule on the second round of greenhouse gas regulations (GHG) for heavy trucks sometime in June.

Once implemented, the rule will set more requirements for truck, engine and trailer manufacturers and Canadian truckers will have to play by similar rules too as Environment Canada is expected to mimic the EPA rules.

That’s why the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) wants to ensure the Canadian requirements include compliance credits for manufacturers that match specific Canadian operating needs and realties that differ from U.S. operations.

According to the CTA, U.S. regulators do not consider the rule’s impact on trucking fleets moving higher weights (over 80,000 pounds); the various multi-axle configurations Canadians have; or the extreme Canadian climate conditions. 

“It is also critical that vehicle specifications under the GHG rules are reflective of the diverse Canadian weights and dimension standards for heavy trucks,” said Geoff Wood, CTA VP of operations and safety.

So the CTA has partnered with provincial trucking associations and will host a series of workshops with Canadian carriers and suppliers.

Each event will focus on details of regional operating conditions and the preferences local carriers have in spec’ing their tractors, engines and trailers from a fuel efficiency perspective.

The CTA is also asking carriers for input on what leading-edge technologies they are looking at implementing, which they would prefer to avoid in the short-to- medium term.

All input from the workshop series will be captured and consolidated in a CTA position paper on the future of the GHG regulation in Canada and its impact on Canadian heavy-truck equipment, and will be released in the fall of 2015.

“This is an opportunity for the trucking industry to get control of future fuel efficiency standards in the Canadian context and advocate for what that the carrier community in Canada wants and needs to maintain their existing operating models. It also sets the stage for future direction on changes to provincial weights and dimension regulations,” Wood said.

Here are the events’ details:

• British Columbia Trucking Association: May 12, 2015 – 10 a.m. to noon;
• Alberta Motor Transport Association: May 13, 2015 –  10 a.m. to  noon;
• Saskatchewan Trucking Association: May 14, 2015 – 10 a.m. to  noon;
• Manitoba Trucking Association: Date/times to be determined;
• Ontario Trucking Association: May 19, 2015 – 10 a.m. to noon;
• Quebec Trucking Association: Date/times to be determined;
• Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association: May 22, 2015 – 10 a.m. to noon.

Agenda, location, and invitations will be sent by each provincial trucking association. For more information, email Geoffrey Wood at Geoffrey.Wood@cantruck.ca.