Why Strengthening Trailer Fuel Efficiency Standards is Critical for Reducing Emissions

Tractor-trailers account for nearly two thirds of heavy-duty vehicle emissions (which in turn account for 6% of U.S. GHG emissions). Better trailer design is therefore vital to reducing national fuel use and GHG emissions. The Phase 2 Heavy Duty Greenhouse Gas Emissions standards, which were slated to take effect starting with Model Year (MY) 2018, included modest requirements for trailers that – according to ACEEE projections – would save almost 100,000 barrels of oil per day by 2040, more than the total highway fuel consumption of 17 states. Despite the importance of trailer regulations, they face the duel threat of a lawsuit over regulatory authority and stated regulator intent to weaken them. This factsheet shows that maintaining strong current trailer standards is not only critical to reducing emissions, GHGs, and fuel consumption today but also vital to enabling an electric truck future.