Australia to tighten new truck emission regulations

Emissions standard, Euro 6, will be phased in over 12 months from 1 November 2024 for new manufacturers must add the advanced safety and fuel-saving technologies to Australian models that other countries trucks and buses according to the Federal Government.

By introducing tighter noxious emissions standards it is the Federal Government’s aim to save lives, prevent toxic air pollution and provide environmental and economic benefits for communities.

The Australian Government’s Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics estimates introducing Euro 6 will save the Australian community $6.4 billion Emissions standard, over 25 years from fewer premature deaths and Euro 6, will be chronic illnesses. phased in over Australian based truck manufacturers 12 months from 1 and importers have November 2024 been calling for the introduction of Euro 6 standards for years. for new trucks and buses according These standards are already in place in the European Union and to the Federal Government United Kingdom, and equivalent standards also apply in most developed countries, including the United States and Japan. China and India have also recently adopted equivalent standards.

Introducing Euro 6 will mean already have. This will help improve safety outcomes, and contribute to our emissions reduction targets. The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and National Transport Commission are working with state and territory governments to make changes to ensure operators purchasing cleaner and safer trucks maintain productivity when the new standards become mandatory. Further improvements to fuel quality could help support introduction of tighter standards for light vehicles, known as Euro 6d. The Government is considering how best to improve fuel quality and enable all new light vehicles sold in Australia to meet Euro 6d standards. “Australia has been lagging in our vehicle noxious emissions standards for years now, and this move will help bring our vehicle market into the 21st century – and into line with overseas vehicle markets,” said Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister, Catherine King.

Climate Change and Energy Minister, Chris Bowen, said: “The Albanese Government has hit the ground running in cleaning up transport pollution and reducing its health burden, first by reducing the amount of sulphur in our petrol and now introducing tighter noxious emissions standards for new trucks and buses. We’re making transport emissions cleaner and greener.”

The Truck Industry Council (TIC) has also welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement regarding the introduction of the Euro VI emission regulation and equivalent alternative standards for heavy vehicles in Australia.

The TIC has been advocating for this introduction since 2015 and is pleased to see Transport Minister Catherine King acting quickly upon her appointment, engaging with the TIC, to ensure the regulation can be mandated, with its health and safety benefits flowing on to the Australian community.

The TIC say the introduction of the regulation is a win for public health and will lead to the uptake of trucks with the latest safety technologies such as Advanced Emergency Braking Systems (AEBS), Lane Departure Warning, and Vulnerable Road User Detection Warning.

The TIC also say truck operators will benefit from fuel savings of between 3 and 7 per cent, as has been seen in overseas markets where this technology has already been adopted and the road freight transport industry is well on its journey to a zero emissions future with many exciting greenhouse reduction technologies set to be introduced.

Truck drivers have now been added to the National Skills Commission’s skills shortage list.

The Skills Priority List (SPL) provides a detailed view of occupations in shortage, nationally and broken down by state and territory. It also includes the future demand for occupations in Australia.

Trucking is one of 129 occupations that weren’t considered in shortage in 2021 but are now in shortage in 2022.