Government urged to support fuel-saving APUs

ATA and CTA urge U.S. and Canadian provincial governments in the U.S to revise fuel tax systems to encourage truckers to use eco friendly idling reduction technology.

BY: admin | Thu Jul 10, 2008

In a joint statement, CTA CEO David Bradley and ATA CEO and President Bill Graves asked International Fuel Tax Association Inc. member jurisdictions to stop taxing fuel used to operate idling reduction technology, mainly the auxiliary power unit that reduces diesel fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by large truck engines. The International Fuel Tax Agreement is the organization of states and provinces through which motor carriers' fuel use tax obligations are administered uniformly throughout North America.

The primary reason for large truck engine idling is to heat or cool the cab for long-haul drivers during periods of rest. However, several studies have clearly shown that using a heavy-duty truck engine to power the heating and cooling of a truck cab is inefficient and environmentally unsound.

'The use of idling reduction technology could reduce the fuel consumption of a long-haul tractor by some 1,900 gallons or 7,200 liters per year