A coalition of U.S. trucking associations urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to delay implementation of its heavy-duty NOx rule until 2031, citing substantial added costs amid already-existing economic and operational pressures facing the trucking industry.
In a letter to EPA administrator Lee Zeldin, the industry thanked EPA for reevaluating the heavy-duty NOx regulation. The letter was signed by the American Trucking Associations, its federation of 49 state trucking associations, the Truckload Carriers Association, and the National Tank Truck Carriers.
In the letter, ATA stressed that today’s modern trucks already meet stringent emissions standards, producing 99% fewer NOx and particulate matter emissions than previous generations. The industry argued that delaying the rule would preserve affordable, reliable equipment while allowing continued environmental progress.
“As finalized, the heavy-duty NOx rule imposes substantial compliance costs and operational burdens at a time when the trucking industry is already contending with historically difficult market conditions,” ATA wrote. “With prolonged weakness in freight demand and inflationary cost pressures, the rule’s 2027 implementation timeline threatens to intensify strain across our industry.”
ATA also urged EPA to conduct a full reconsideration of the regulation’s provisions — such as stringency levels, warranty obligations, useful life requirements, and technical elements — and finalize any changes by the end of 2026 to give manufacturers adequate lead time for the 2031 implementation.
“An implementation delay will provide much-needed near-term certainty, and a full reconsideration of the heavy-duty standards will help ensure the trucking industry’s ability to affordably deliver our nation’s freight in a safe and efficient way,” the letter added.
