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Diesel truck industry getting a lot cleaner, fast

More than 28 percent of all trucks registered in the United States – 2.5 million of 8.6 million trucks - are now equipped with advanced new technology clean diesel engines, according to new data compiled by R.L. Polk and Company for the Diesel Technology Forum (DTF).

The Polk data includes registration information on Class 3-8 trucks from 2007 through 2012 in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Beginning in 2007, all heavy duty diesel trucks sold had to meet particulate emissions levels of 0.01 grams per brake horse-power hour (g/HP-hr) - a level near zero.

“The fact that more than 28 percent of all trucks on U.S. roads today are new technology diesel engines with near zero emissions is significant for the environment and the trucking industry,” said Allen Schaeffer, the Executive Director of the Diesel Technology Forum. “More than 95 percent of all heavy-duty trucks are diesel-powered, as are a majority of medium-duty trucks. Diesel power is the driving force today of goods movement by truck in our economy and they are continuing to play a central role of the United States' new effort to reduce fuel consumption and lower greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in the coming years."

Tracy Samilton covers energy and transportation, including the auto industry and the business response to climate change for Michigan Public. She began her career at Michigan Public as an intern, where she was promptly “bitten by the radio bug,” and never recovered.