Use of new technology clean diesel trucks increasing

Aug. 13, 2013
Clean diesel trucks make up 28 percent of all trucks.

More than 28 percent of all trucks registered in the U.S. - 2.5 million of 8.6 million trucks - are now equipped with advanced new technology clean diesel engines, according to new data compiled by R.L. Polk and Company (www.polk.com) for the Diesel Technology Forum (DTF). 

Polk is the premier provider of automotive information and marketing solutions. DTF is an organization dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of diesel engines, fuel and technology.  

The Polk data includes registration information on Class 3 through 8 trucks from 2007 through 2012 in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Beginning in 2007, all heavy duty diesel trucks sold had to meet particulate emissions levels of 0.01 grams per brake horsepower hour - a level near zero.

Regionally, the Midwest has the highest percent of new diesel trucks, followed by the South, Northeast and West. The top 10 new technology diesel trucks states by 2012 total:

1. Texas                     

2. Indiana                    

3. California                

4. Illinois                    

5. Pennsylvania          

6. New York                  

7. Florida                     

8. Ohio                        

9. North Carolina          

10. Georgia                    

"Emissions from today's diesel trucks and buses are near zero thanks to more efficient engines, more effective emissions control technology and the nationwide availability of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel," says Allen Schaeffer, DTF's executive director. "The new clean diesel technology has reduced emissions from heavy duty diesel trucks and buses by 99 percent for nitrogen oxides (NOx) and 98 percent for particulate emissions.

"What makes the new diesel technology even more remarkable is that model year 2010 and later trucks are experiencing an average of three to five percent improvement in fuel economy."

About the Author

David A. Kolman | Contributor - Fleet Maintenance