Last week, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a proposed rule aimed at mandating increased fuel efficiency and reducing carbon emissions from, in part, heavy-duty vehicles such as ready mixed concrete trucks. According to EPA, the proposal is "expected  to lower CO2 emissions by approximately 1 billion metric tons, cut fuel costs by about $170 billion, and reduce oil consumption by up to 1.8 billion barrels over the lifetime of the vehicles sold under the program." The new standard purports to cut CO2 emissions by 24 percent with a similar fuel efficiency increase for covered vehicles, model years 2021-2027.

DOT and EPA contend that the proposed standard will cost impacted industries roughly $25 billion over the seven year period. They also suggest that any added cost to new trucks adhering to the new requirements would be recouped by truck owners in under two years due to the fuel savings. NRMCA is analyzing the nearly 1,400-page proposal. Once the proposal is published in the Federal Register there will be a public comment period open for 60 days.