Posted on 08/12/2011 10:18:59 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
We’ve had the opportunity to previously discuss the Obama administration’s proposed changes to CAFE standards for the nation’s fleet of passenger vehicles and the downstream effects this will have on auto prices and jobs. Never satisfied with half measures in “helping” us in this struggling economy, the White House has apparently decided to double down and apply similar new standards to long haul, big rig trucks now.
WASHINGTON–President Obama announced the first-ever fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas standards for long-haul rigs, work trucks, and other heavy duty vehicles Tuesday, the second mileage pact with manufacturers in less than a month.
The regulations call for reductions on fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 2018 of 9 to 23 percent, depending on the type of vehicle. Trucks and other heavy vehicles make up only 4 percent of the domestic vehicle fleet, but given the distance they travel, the time they spend idling and their low fuel efficiency, they end up consuming about 20% of all vehicle fuel, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Experts say that a 20 percent reduction in heavy vehicle emissions would boost fuel efficiency to an average of 8 miles per gallon from 6 miles now.
I’m sorry, but didn’t the president just stand up at a battery factory someplace and tell us that his renewed focus was not only on jobs but on repairing the tanking national economy? I thought I remembered something about that.
Transportation companies have their eye on the bottom line just like everyone else, and fuel is one of their biggest expenses. Does anyone honestly believe that they aren’t already demanding the most gas efficient trucks the manufacturers can provide at a sustainable cost? It’s just how the market works.
So if this plan has the same effect we anticipate ramped up CAFE standards to have on the passenger vehicle fleet, it’s going to cost more for these companies to operate and haul their cargo. And who gets the bill for the increased shipping costs? I’ll give you one guess.
These trucks haul all sorts of things… particularly food. The Lonely Conservative chimes in with what should be a no-brainer.
President Obama and his nasty regulators have set new fuel standards for large trucks. No doubt this will drive up the cost of the food we put on our tables, because that food has to get from point A to point B. Does anyone out there think this wont drive up the price of our food, and everything else we buy? Hellloooo? McFly?
By now, savvy observers should see something of a disconnect between the stated goals of the Obama administration and the actions of its regulatory agencies. The hits just keep on coming, don’t they?
I hope President Palin makes getting rid of these ridiculous federal agencies a top priority.
Basically, it’s a hidden tax on everyone. No new taxes huh?
Wanna bet the standards will be “waived” for those trustworthy, well maintained, and expertly driven Mexican trucks that are now allowed to cross over?
Didn’t know about it? Hmmmm, wonder why......
So? The Teamsters will still back Obama. Like chickens making the batter for Colonel Sanders.
The economics of trucking are brutal and if there was any way to wring another 20% efficiency out of on 18 wheeler it would already have been done because the payoff is rapid, especially at $4/gallon fuel prices.
Our current generation of trucks is already pretty efficient as it is after 20 years of pressure for better economy. It's going to take major breakthroughs to get a 20% improvement off the current baseline.
Furthermore, the drive for radically lower emissions while at the same time increasing efficiency 20% are contradictory goals. For diesels, lower emissions require soot boxes and filters that strangle engines, add weight increase aerodynamic drag. All of these decrease fuel efficiency.
Any of these improvements require a major investment into new technology and equipment for truck manufacturers to build these more efficient trucks. These trucks are going to be way more expensive than the current generation of trucks and reinvesting in new trucks is going to be a huge investment for truckers.
Who the heck is going to be crazy enough to make ANY new reinvestment in any business with all of the business killing regulations the Obama Administration is imposing on America.
The real consequence will be that American manufacturers will shift production to foreign specification trucks and will build them in new off shore factories. This will be one more nail in the coffin of American manufacturing.
If you should find yourself on the freeway one morning, in what many would ignorantly call bliss, without trucks all around you, you would know that the greatest depression ever has occurred. Of course on this hypothetical morning you had better have filled your tank cause no trucks will be delivering gasoline to your local station. Oh and you better beat your neighbors to the grocery store to empty the shelves of food and every other item, don't forget your prescription drugs, cause there will be no more deliveries. Hope you are a good farmer. The Amish should do well in this scenario. The real Amish that is not those that we call Amish here on FR. The FR Amish will probably be beating down the doors of all the local shops and probably your home as well.
Rumor elsewhere on FR says that EPA is considering requiring all farmers to have a COMMERCIAL driver’s license to operate ANY ‘wheeled piece of equipment’.
That would cost alot more.
Commercial licenses are expensive.
Having a commercial license CAN add to your vehicle insurance.
Having a requirement for a commercial license CAN lead to calling all such farm ‘wheeled vehicles’ commercial vehicles. Such registration costs are much higher.
A person MAY have to have an annual physical to get such commercial license.
Many states have agricultural permits that allow kids 14 & up to drive on the family farm to use equipment. This would impact the running of such farms.
I am pretty sure that ALL horse/cattle/sheep/livestock trailers would be considered “wheeled farm vehicles”.
There are millions of horse owners like myself who own our horse trailers and tow ourselves to wherever we are competing or riding. I have driven over 25 years with horses, all across this country, with no problems & I certainly do not feel I need a COMMERCIAL license!!!!
Telling all of us that we must have commercial driver’s licenses will be devastating.
Don’t even have a single clue how the EPA would handle such a requirement with the Amish or the Mennonites. There are still many acres which are farmed with horses, but the equipment is ‘wheeled’.
NObama sure is determined to kill the USA!!!!
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Uh, Mr. Math Impaired Man, sir? If they consume only five times their share of fuel, that doesn't make them INefficient, it makes them SUPER-efficient. They can carry FAR more than five times the payload of the average vehicle, plus they travel far more miles per day on average. Idiot.
Well, right, he plans to keep imposing new regulations and raising taxes till the economy picks up. What don't you understand?
It should work just like the time tested method where companies fire one employee every hour till morale improves.
They are smarter than you or I or what the simple economics would dictate....just bow down and comply/sarc
brilliant...
Yep. Apparently you misunderstood him. You see, the American economy, as hurt as it may be, has impressive resillience. It just won't die, so he has to repair the 'tanking mechanisms' to make sure he destroys it.
It's flat out fascism, is what it is.
With a maximum normal GVW of 80,000 lbs, figure 60,000 lbs of cargo, they outstrip the average family vehicle by a factor between 40 and 60. Lowballing the figure, given the number of 1 ton pickups in this area, they haul 30 times the cargo most ordinary vehicles do, and they’re losing money if they aren’t.
No doubt there will be exemptions for Mexican trucks.
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