The trucking industry is praising the latest regulatory change from the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
At the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines today, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced new action the agency said will "protect American farmers, truckers, and other diesel equipment operators from sudden speed and power losses caused by diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) systems."
A statement from the EPA said it has issued clear guidance to engine and equipment manufacturers urging them to revise DEF system software in existing vehicles and equipment to prevent these sudden shutdowns, giving operators more time to repair faults without impacting productivity or safety.
“We have heard loud and clear from small businesses across the United States that the current DEF system is unacceptable," said Zeldin. "It is unacceptable that farmers, truckers, construction workers, and many other small businesses continually experience failures of diesel-powered equipment when they need it most—costing millions of dollars in lost productivity."
He said the EPA was responding to those concerns by calling on manufacturers to take action to update their software and eliminate what he called "the unnecessary sudden loss of power and frustrating shutdowns that too many Americans have experienced."
Starting with model year 2027, EPA requirements state that all new diesel on-road trucks must be engineered to avoid sudden and severe power loss after running out of DEF, according to s statement from the EPA. To fix the problem for vehicles already in use, EPA’s new guidance, developed in collaboration with manufacturers, will work to ensure that the necessary software changes can be made on the existing fleet.
Trucking industry leaders have praised the EPA's actions.
“OOIDA and the 150,000 small-business truckers we represent thank Administrator Zeldin for listening to the men and women behind the wheel who keep America’s economy moving," said Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association President Todd Spencer. "EPA’s guidance establishes more commonsense inducement schedules that will help drivers maintain safe control of their vehicles as they diagnose and remedy faulty DEF/SCR systems. More flexible inducement speeds and times will help truckers finish their trips, plan for necessary maintenance, and avoid parking their truck for an extended period simply because of a false alarm."
The American Trucking Associations also expressed support for the new diesel exhaust fluid guidance issued by Zeldin.
Patrick Kelly, ATA’s vice president of energy and environmental affairs, said, “Trucking fleets across the country applaud EPA Administrator Zeldin for responding to the concerns of our industry and providing common-sense solutions that reflect the complexities and realities of trucking. EPA’s new guidance will avoid unnecessary towing costs and equipment downtime while preserving the full environmental benefits that Selective Catalytic Reduction systems provide.”
In a statement, ATA said the new DEF guidance for manufacturers will significantly increase the amount of time operators have to address a sensor alert. This change will help prevent supply chain disruptions as well as reduce costs for unnecessary emergency towing, repairs, or rentals, according to the ATA.
