The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it is proposing to eliminate deratements stemming from Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) System failures.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the proposal would save American truckers $12 billion and eliminate unnecessary revisions to compliance requirements. If finalized, he said, the savings could reach up to $6,000 per vehicle on new truck purchases, in addition to increased productivity the agency said operators are currently losing when deratements cause sudden speed loss on the road. Combined, the EPA estimated the revision would save truckers $12 billion, which Zeldin said would be passed on to American families through lower costs on products trucks deliver, while still maintaining strong environmental protections.
“Americans depend on reliable trucks to move essential goods across the country. If finalized, these changes will help manufacturers keep improving their vehicles without being forced to rush products to market before they’re ready. Combined with the Trump EPA’s first proposed deregulatory action to address ongoing DEF problems, this will ease real burdens for operators,” Zeldin said. “The Trump EPA is committed to making trucking safe and reliable again while protecting human health and the environment.”
The EPA is also proposed to scale back emissions warranty requirements. Under the proposal, the EPA would maintain the underlying emission standards, including nearly 90 percent of the nitrogen oxide reductions, while cutting the unnecessary warranty costs. The EPA is also proposing additional lead time before the longer regulatory useful life requirements from the 2023 rule take effect to allow manufacturers to ensure new technologies perform reliably under real-world conditions.
The proposals come after truck and engine manufacturers, suppliers, trucking fleets and dealerships have warned that Nox emission reduction provisions were unattainable within the given timeframe and would create compliance challenges.
“The EPA, SBA, and USDA have made steady progress toward ending DEF deratements, removing unreliable sensor requirements, and offering operators more practical compliance options,” U.S. Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler said. “Today’s proposed rule is about locking in long-term reform and delivering a diesel framework that lowers costs, restores equipment reliability, and puts the hardest working Americans first.”