DOT takes initial step toward truck fuel economy regulations

Just three weeks after U.S. President Barack Obama’s call for fuel economy standards for medium- and heavy-duty commercial trucks, the U.S. Department of Transportation has gotten its regulatory machinery in gear. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the agency plans to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the new truck fuel efficiency improvement program. The new standards will start with model year 2016 vehicles, with voluntary compliance standards for model year 2014-2015 vehicles. (June 17, 2010)