U.S. Legislative Updates

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Transportation will delay for several weeks the official release of new fuel-efficiency and carbon emission standards that would apply to cars and light trucks beginning in 2017. In July, President Obama announced that automakers had agreed to new standards for automobiles from 2017 to 2025, with an ultimate fleet-wide average standard of 54.5 mpg by 2025. The rules making those changes official were expected to be announced in late September, but reportedly will now be issued sometime in November.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Oversight Committee is expanding its probe of the Obama administration’s the pending carbon emission standards, according to a letter it sent to the EPA.  The investigation led by committee chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) reflects the ongoing battle between House leaders and the administration over the extent to which EPA can address climate change without congressional input.


The NAFA Fleet Management Association has urged the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to move expeditiously with a rulemaking addressing the use of mobile devices by commercial drivers.  The two agencies have been asked by the National Transportation Safety Board to prohibit the use of both handheld and hands-free cellular telephones by all commercial drivers’ license holders while driving in commercial operations, except in emergencies.  In a letter to Ray LaHood, Secretary of Transportation and Anne Ferro, Administrator of the FMCSA, NAFA expressed strong support for the NTSB’s recommendation.   "FMCSA’s action on NTSB’s recommendation will be an important tool against distracted driving and will support the efforts of fleet managers to encourage their companies and agencies to strengthen safety programs with further restrictions on cell phone and text message usage," NAFA said in the letter.