Trucking's Environmental Initiative

Diesel is expensive, the national average is $3.482 a gallon and although prices have come down in recent weeks they are still high.

In an industry with thin profit margins, increasing fuel efficiency and minimizing fuel consumption are major goals of any trucking company. Those goals coincide with the global need for industries to reduce their carbon footprint and their overall environmental impact.

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) is committed to a series of measures designed to further reduce the carbon emissions of trucks in the United States.

These provisions adopted by the ATA Board of Directors in 2007 advocate for:

• Set governors on new trucks to limit speeds and set the national speed limit to 65 mph for all vehicles
 
• Reduce engine idling

• Increase fuel efficiency by encouraging participation in the U.S. EPA SmartWay SM Transport Partnership Program

• Reduce congestion by improving highways, if necessary by raising the fuels tax

• Use more productive truck combinations

• Support national fuel economy standards for trucks

In addition trucks currently burning ultra low sulfur diesel (15 parts per million) - the cleanest on the market - compared to trains and ships that burn dirtier diesel containing 500 parts per million or higher.

The ATA promotes and encourages environmentally friendly and sustainable practices within the shipping industry.  We believe reducing the industry's carbon footprint is not only good for the environment but also good for business.

Additional information is available at: www.trucksdeliver.org