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Truckers say EPA's 2007 truck diesel engine standards have created more problems than they solved.

Score another one for the law of unintended consequences: In 2007, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandated stricter standards on new truck diesel engines in an effort to curb emissions of pollutants known as "particulate matter." But it was soon discovered that the only way to keep particulate matter from reaching the atmosphere was to trap the pollutants inside the engine and use the combustion generated by diesel fuel to incinerate the matter. Unfortunately, the process resulted in a drag on fuel economy, which, in turn, required an increase in the amount of diesel fuel used, which—in turn—effectively increased carbon emissions.

Glen P. Kedzie, vice president and associate environmental counsel for the American Trucking Associations, estimates that compliance with the 2007 standards has resulted in a 2- to 4-percent reduction in a truck's average fuel economy, while raising the cost of a new engine by $8,000 to $10,000 per unit.


This is not the first time that truck manufacturers, buyers, and leasing companies have taken it on the chin in the name of sustainability. According to trucking industry estimates, EPA clean-air rules in 2002 drove up engine costs by $3,000 to $5,000 per unit, while reducing fuel economy by 6 to 8 percent, due mainly to the use of then-new Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) technology designed to reduce levels of nitrous oxide. And even-tougher EPA emission rules that take effect in 2010 will lead to a re-pricing of new engines to the tune of $10,000 per unit, according to Kedzie.

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Trucking industry experiences record-high congestion costs

Trucking industry experiences record-high congestion costs

Congestion on U.S. highways is costing the trucking industry big, according to research from the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), released today.

The group found that traffic congestion on U.S. highways added $108.8 billion in costs to the trucking industry in 2022, a record high. The information comes from ATRI’s Cost of Congestion study, which is part of the organization’s ongoing highway performance measurement research.

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From pingpong diplomacy to supply chain diplomacy?

There’s a photo from 1971 that John Kent, professor of supply chain management at the University of Arkansas, likes to show. It’s of a shaggy-haired 18-year-old named Glenn Cowan grinning at three-time world table tennis champion Zhuang Zedong, while holding a silk tapestry Zhuang had just given him. Cowan was a member of the U.S. table tennis team who participated in the 1971 World Table Tennis Championships in Nagoya, Japan. Story has it that one morning, he overslept and missed his bus to the tournament and had to hitch a ride with the Chinese national team and met and connected with Zhuang.

Cowan and Zhuang’s interaction led to an invitation for the U.S. team to visit China. At the time, the two countries were just beginning to emerge from a 20-year period of decidedly frosty relations, strict travel bans, and trade restrictions. The highly publicized trip signaled a willingness on both sides to renew relations and launched the term “pingpong diplomacy.”

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Hyster-Yale to expand domestic manufacturing

Hyster-Yale Materials Handling today announced its plans to fulfill the domestic manufacturing requirements of the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act for certain portions of its lineup of forklift trucks and container handling equipment.

That means the Greenville, North Carolina-based company now plans to expand its existing American manufacturing with a targeted set of high-capacity models, including electric options, that align with the needs of infrastructure projects subject to BABA requirements. The company’s plans include determining the optimal production location in the United States, strategically expanding sourcing agreements to meet local material requirements, and further developing electric power options for high-capacity equipment.

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California moves a step closer to requiring EV sales only by 2035

Federal regulators today gave California a green light to tackle the remaining steps to finalize its plan to gradually shift new car sales in the state by 2035 to only zero-emissions models — meaning battery-electric, hydrogen fuel cell, and plug-in hybrid cars — known as the Advanced Clean Cars II Rule.

In a separate move, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also gave its approval for the state to advance its Heavy-Duty Omnibus Rule, which is crafted to significantly reduce smog-forming nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from new heavy-duty, diesel-powered trucks.

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Canadian startup gains $5.5 million for AI-based global trade platform

A Canadian startup that provides AI-powered logistics solutions has gained $5.5 million in seed funding to support its concept of creating a digital platform for global trade, according to Toronto-based Starboard.

The round was led by Eclipse, with participation from previous backers Garuda Ventures and Everywhere Ventures. The firm says it will use its new backing to expand its engineering team in Toronto and accelerate its AI-driven product development to simplify supply chain complexities.

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