ARLINGTON, Va., -- The American Trucking Associations (ATA) applauds Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and Kay Granger (R-Texas) for their sponsorship of H.R. 3383, which provides tax credits for the purchase of idling reduction systems for diesel-powered on-highway vehicles.
Known as the "Idle Reduction Tax Act of 2009," the bill proposes a 50 percent tax credit, up to $3,000 for each truck for which an idling reduction device is purchased. The equipment is designed to replace the main engine's support of essential truck functions, including heating or air conditioning, when the truck is parked. The credit would be available to all trucking companies.
"ATA appreciates the leadership of Rep. Blumenauer and Rep. Granger to make the purchase of idle reduction systems more affordable and widely distributed among fleets," said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. "The initial capital cost of idle-reducing technologies has been a major barrier to trucking companies. This legislation will allow us to move forward with industry-wide efforts to reduce air pollution and fuel consumption related to idling."
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimated that on-board idle reduction technologies, which include auxiliary power units, direct-fired heaters and battery-powered climate control systems, reduce idle-related fuel consumption by at least 80 percent. Conserving fuel reduces the nation's dependence on foreign oil sources.
Reducing discretionary idling -- when drivers idle their engines during their rest period -- through new technologies is one of ATA's six sustainability recommendations. The sustainability plan will reduce fuel consumption by 86 billion gallons and thus reduce the carbon footprint of all vehicles by nearly a billion tons over 10 years.
Click here to view all of ATA's sustainability recommendations.
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