Obama orders up new mileage standards for big rigs

The Washington Times ^ | February 18, 2014 | Ben Wolfgang

[jazusamo]

Linking increased fuel economy to the larger issue of economic growth, President Obama on Tuesday directed his administration to write new rules to improve mileage for the nation’s big-rig trucks.

Mr. Obama made the announcement during a speech at a suburban Maryland Safeway distribution center and cast it as the latest move in his so-called “year of action,” a time he’ll act without Congress wherever possible.

“Improving gas mileage for these trucks is going to drive down our oil imports even further,” Mr. Obama said. “That reduces carbon pollution even more, cuts down on businesses’ fuel costs, which should pay off in lower prices for consumers. So it’s not just a win-win. It’s a win-win-win.”

The president added, “The economy is growing. We’re creating jobs. We’re generating more clean energy. We’re cutting our dependence on foreign oil. We’re pumping out less dangerous carbon pollution. If we keep going down this road then we’re going to have a future full of good-paying jobs.”

Under current federal standards, medium and heavy-duty trucks must reduce their fuel consumption by 10 percent to 20 percent by 2018. The president’s new proposal — which won’t be finalized until 2016 — will set even more ambitious goals the trucking industry much achieve in the years after 2018.

[Moonman62]

“Improving gas mileage for these trucks is going to drive down our oil imports even further,” Mr. Obama said. “That reduces carbon pollution even more, cuts down on businesses’ fuel costs, which should pay off in lower prices for consumers. So it’s not just a win-win. It’s a win-win-win.”

I thought the results of fracking were already doing those things and more.

[Vaquero]

None of my cars are nor will they be. Add of plastic. Nor are or will any of my firearms be made of plastic.

[The_Victor]

Under current federal standards, medium and heavy-duty trucks must reduce their fuel consumption by 10 percent to 20 percent by 2018. The president’s new proposal — which won’t be finalized until 2016 — will set even more ambitious goals the trucking industry much achieve in the years after 2018.

Maybe he could decree that friction must reduce it's impact on the trucking industry by 10 to 20%

[Red Badger]

Rest In Peace, old friend, your work is finished.....

If you want ON or OFF the DIESEL ”KnOcK” LIST jut FReepmail me.....

This is a fairly HIGH VOLUME ping list on some days.....

[GMMC0987]

You can also cut down on fuel consumption by ride sharing.
For example you and the wife could take the same jumbo jet to and from your vacation spot. Even more savings can be had by using the same plane for the kids and dog!

[molson209]

President Obama on Tuesday directed his administration to write new rules to improve mileage

WOW !!!!!! I never knew it was that easy to improve mileage

[jazusamo]

Please bump the Freepathon or click above and donate or become a monthly donor!

[DonaldC]

I wonder if this could shift shipping back to rail or bring rail engine designs to trucks.

[Vaquero]

CORRECTION

None of my cars are nor will they be made of plastic. Nor are or will any of my firearms be made of plastic.

[mrsmel]

Will this be enforced on trucks from Mexico, just like safety regulations are (not)?

[driftdiver]

Just limit their weight to 5000 pounds. More trucks and jobs. Its a win win. Woo hoo

[null and void]

Sooooo, this guy thinks that with diesel fuel running northward of $4/gal, and rising, the manufacturers need to be ordered to improve fuel economy?

[Moonman62]

Or maybe it will move more freight to rail which would help his fellow Big Government crony and hypocritical liberal, Warren Buffett.

[cuban leaf]

And in other news, Hitler had some exciting changes in store for Germany to be implemented in 1946.

Didn’t happen.

[marron]

Bingo.

[piroque]

Does he really believe this s___ ,he’s talking about ?

[jazusamo]

You’re so right. Our country runs on trucks and the more independents forced out the higher all goods delivered by trucks will be.

[Gay State Conservative]

I just bought my third diesel a week ago.I loved my previous one but I totaled it...or,to be more accurate,the insurance company totaled it for me (it looked fixable to me).My new oil burner is rated at 45mpg highway and I've seen many reports claiming 50mpg...which is believable because my previous one easily got 39mpg while being rated at 33mpg.

Seems to me that they could improve the mileage of big rigs either by tweeking the engines or the transmissions.

[Tenacious 1]

Another utopian, tunnel visioned, knee jerk solution to an imaginary problem by our blunderer-in-chief.

The industry has a private and very real interest in consuming less fuel. It needs no government intervention. But the government wants to intercede anyway.

It’s important to remember, it was the government that re-formulated diesel gas “for the environment” (also knee jerk. See MTBE as another example). The new formula is more expensive, more destructive to the machinery, less efficient and puts more amonia in the atmosphere. It also reduces the potential gas mileage afforded by diesel fueled vehicles. But it does emit less CO2 by a tiny fraction (when compared to the additional fuel that is consumed). What have they accomplished again? Same as usual.