April 2013 Volume 33, Issue 4 Delivering daily news to Canada’s trucking industry at www.trucknews.com
Dirty players Tampering with emissions controls could become riskier, as provinces finally consider enforcement
losing hope: The trucking industry, which opposes the new US hours-of-service rules slated to take effect in July, is losing hope that the changes will be overturned or delayed. Are you prepared for the new rules?
A reprieve unlikely, former FMSCA administrator advises to start training drivers on new US hours-of-service rules By James Menzies SEATTLE, Wash. – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has rejected an appeal from the American Trucking Associations to postpone implementation of the new US hoursof-service rules. As a result, significant changes will go into effect as scheduled July 1, barring a court ruling to the contrary before then. A US Court will hear arguments against the new rules in March. However, Annette Sandberg, a former FMCSA administrator and
now principal of TransSafe Consulting, said carriers shouldn’t count on a delay or the courts overturning the new rules. She was speaking as part of a Zonar-sponsored Webinar on regulatory changes. Sandberg said carriers should begin training drivers on the implications of the new rules now, so that they’re prepared for the roll-out in July. As of July 1, drivers in the US will only be able to use the 34-hour reset provision once in a seven-day period, they will have to take off two overnight periods between 1 and 5
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a.m. during that reset, and drivers will require a 30-minute rest break within their first eight hours on-duty, limiting their total on-duty time to 13.5 hours. “If you’re using an EOBR, talk to your provider and say ‘When are you going to have the software ready?’ Those devices will do the calculations for you . If you’re still using paper logs, you need to do the training now,” Sandberg warned. For industry reaction to the FMCSA’s decision to charge ahead with the new rules, see pg. 8. n
By James Menzies TORONTO, Ont. – An investigation by Truck News has found that engine tampering to defeat emissions controls mandated on new trucks over the past decade is widespread and easily attainable. Advertised as DPF Delete or EGR Delete kits, service providers offer to remove the emissions-reducing devices and then reprogram the engine for better performance at a cost of thousands of dollars, which shops claim will quickly be recovered through improved fuel economy and reliability. The procedure, however, effectively reverses the environmental gains resulting from the advent of EGR and DPF systems introduced in 2002 and 2007 respectively, and essentially restores the vehicle to EPA02 or earlier pollution levels. An EPA02 engine had a regulated output of 2.5 grams NOx and 0.1 grams per brake horsepower hour of particulate matter. The current EPA10 limits are 0.2 grams NOx and 0.01 grams of particulate matter. That means an EPA10 engine is Continued on page 34
Inside This Issue...
• An indecent decision?:
An arbitrator has rewarded an MTO officer who pled guilty to indecent acts his job back. Should female drivers be concerned? Page 22
• Talking ‘green’ trucks:
Full coverage of the Green Truck Summit, including why natural gas is all the rage while hybrids have lost some of their shine. Page 61-64
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• Problem-solver:
An American trucker has invented a trailer component that could extend life, reduce accidents. Page 73
Page 65
• Like a lamb to slaughter: Did Mark Dalton get himself in over
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his head when he agreed to haul a load of sheep? Page 76
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