ATA fights California's regs for reefer rigs
Feb 28, 2006 9:42 AM, from staff and wire reports
The American Trucking Associations has asked the United States Environmental Protection Agency to halt the California Air Resources Board (ARB) from establishing performance standards for engines that cool refrigerated tractor-trailers.
In its comments to the EPA, the trucking group said almost 340,000 refrigerated tractor-trailers nationwide will be required to comply with California regulations, no matter how much time they spend operating in that state.
This total, 30 times more than ARB originally figured, means 75% of refrigerated tractor-trailers outside of California either have to be retrofitted, scrapped, or replaced with new equipment under the rule.
ATA said the rule will cost motor carriers between $775 million and $1.4 billion, though ARB's own cost estimates were between $87 million and $156 million.
In February 2004, ARB adopted the regulation that any diesel engine used to power refrigerated trucks operating in California must comply with that state's standards before year-end 2008.
