Environmental Leader

With heavy truck engines facing a 2010 deadline for new emissions standards from EPA and the California Air Resources Board, engines from Volvo and Mack claim to be the first to meet both certifications.

Heavy duty 11- and 13-liter diesel engines from Volvo and Mack recently passed emissions tests that show them to be compliant with EPA standards without having to use emissions credits, according to a press release.

Other makers of heavy trucks are making moves to reduce emissions, too. Scania’s R-Series trucks won the International Truck of the Year award because of its reduce emissions, among other factors, reports Logistics Manager.

Vehicle manufacturers are expected to face heavier scrutiny from the EPA after recent moves to regulate CO2 emissions under the Clean Air Act. A recent report shows that global carbon emissions have risen 29 percent since 2000.

While some manufacturers are adding lower-emissions engines to their repertoire, some buyers of large trucks are going with other options.

Foodservice operator Sysco, for instance, is investigating the feasibility of using natural gas for its trucking fleet. For a truck that averages 50,000 miles traveled each year, going to natural gas would reduce particulate emissions by 400 pounds.