Blumenauer Introduces Bill that Helps Truckers, Saves Fuel, and Protects the Environment

Bipartisan Legislation to Offer Incentives for Engine Systems that Save Fuel on Idling Trucks

Washington, DC—Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore) today introduced bipartisan legislation that is supported by both truckers and environmentalists. The bill, the Idling Reduction Tax Credit Act of 2009, is co-sponsored by Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX) and provides a tax credit for the purchase of idling reduction units. These units reduce the amount of fuel used when a truck is running but not on the road. They are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) SmartWay partnership and are designed to reduce the gas consumption and environmental burden of long-duration truck idling.

Some surveys suggest that trucks spend between 6-8 hours a day idling, for up to 300 days a year. The cost to truckers and the environment is great, and idling reduction units can reduce these costs by powering the truck services (a/c, heat, electricity) through the use of a small auxiliary power unit. Unfortunately, these units cost up to $8,500. The bill offers a 50% tax credit, capped at $3,000, which will help ease the burden of purchasing the equipment.

“We have truckers and environmentalists on the same page,” said Congressman Blumenauer. “We can cut costs and the output of global warming pollution by making it affordable for truckers to buy the equipment needed to reduce fuel wasted when idling. It’s a win for everyone – truckers, public health, and the planet.”

“I think focusing on idling reduction is a common-sense way to not only cut down on the amount of fuel trucks use, but to reduce the amount of truck pollution,” said Congresswoman Granger. “It may seem like a small step, but when you add up the amount of time an average truck idles in a year, this tax credit will benefit both the trucking community and the environment in a very big way.”

“The American Trucking Associations applauds Congressman Blumenauer and Congresswoman Granger for proposing financial incentives to make the purchase of idle reduction systems more affordable and widely distributed. This is a major step that will allow the trucking industry to further reduce CO2 emissions by 67 to 133 million tons over a ten year period and a much larger impact than we could expect to see otherwise,” said American Trucking Association President and CEO Bill Graves.

“Nearly 90% of the trucking industry is made up of motor carriers that have fewer than 6 trucks in their fleets,” said Todd Spencer, Executive Vice President of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA). “These small business truckers literally drive our economy, but rarely have the disposable income to make large, up-front purchases for idle reduction technologies. A tax credit would go a long way to create a real incentive to purchase idle reduction technologies, and it is a win for the environment, a win for lower fuel consumption, a win for hard working truckers, and a win for safety on our highways.”