• Trailer association seeks faster review of GHG lawsuit

    EPA’s request for 90-day delay could hamper industry, TTMA says.
    April 24, 2017
    2 min read
    TTMA fears a 90day pause to review the trailer portion of Phase 2 GHG rules could impact production cycles

    The Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association (TTMA) is coming out in support of the Trump administration’s decision to review the Phase 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) final rules, but a request for a 90-day pause to address TTMA’s lawsuit could hurt manufacturers if the implementation date is not pushed back.

    The first-ever GHG standard for trailers is scheduled to kick in on Jan. 1 next year, but TTMA has challenged the trailer provisions of the overall rule from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which sets new emissions and fuel economy targets through 2027 for tractors and trailers.

    Last week, EPA requested a 90-day pause until July 20 to allow the agency’s new leadership, headed by Administrator Scott Pruitt, to review options and potentially take action “that could obviate the need for judicial resolution of some or all the issues raised by [TTMA].”

    In a filing with the court, TTMA said only a 30-day extension of the pending legal action should be granted, based on the rule’s current implementation date.

    “TTMA and its members would be unfairly prejudiced by a 90-day abeyance, absent some action by the agencies to defer trailer manufacturers’ compliance obligations by an equivalent time period,” the group said.

    In defending what it classified as partial opposition to the EPA’s request, TTMA said trailer manufacturing is a “highly customized business” and typically receive orders six months ahead of production. As a result, granting a 90-day pause without an equal extension of the rule’s effective date “would prejudice TTMA’s members and unfairly burden their right to seek review of the final rule.”

    Wabash National Corp., the nation’s largest trailer maker, declined to specifically address the legal action, but reiterated it was prepared for the regulation.

    “We’re ready to support our customers, whether the GHG2 rule stays in place or not. As the innovation leader in the trailer industry, Wabash will continue to pursue technologies that further improve fuel efficiency and reduce operating costs for our customers,” the company said.

    About the Author

    Neil Abt

    Neil Abt is a former FleetOwner editor who wrote for the publication from 2017 to 2020. He was editorial director from 2018 to 2020.

    Voice your opinion!

    To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!

    Sign up for our free eNewsletters

    Latest from Regulations

    CarriersEdge
    English proficiency assessment
    The driver training company released on online assessment, providing visual cues and audio questions to assess a driver’s ability to respond during an inspection. The program ...
    ID 186175420 © Noipornpan | Dreamstime.com
    medical examination
    A new rule implemented by FMCSA will require that driver medical exam results be submitted electronically and within a calendar day of the examination.
    ID 119046131 © Jonathan Weiss | Dreamstime.com
    English language proficiency support
    A FleetOwner survey illustrates how industry readers view the government renewed English language proficiency enforcement. Respondents overwhelmingly support ELP in out-of-service...