OOIDA will use nearly $1 million federal grant to help Midwest truckers reduce pollution

Small truck fleet trade group the Owner, Operator and Independent Driver's Association (OOIDA) has been named to receive a nearly $1 million federal grant to protect public health by reducing diesel emissions from trucks, the government said Thursday.

Grain Valley, Mo.-based OOIDA will use the $943,725 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to install 420 auxiliary power units in trucks belonging to the group's members. The program is intended to provide cleaner air in Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska by reducing extensive amounts of nitrogen oxides, particulate matter (soot), and carbon dioxide emitted through vehicle exhaust.

This Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) project is expected to award $40 million in competitive grant funding for the Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program. The program has solicited proposals nationwide for projects that achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions in terms of tons of pollution produced and reductions in exposure.

Earlier this week, a number of transportation industry firms threw their support behind a related EPA plan to reduce truck exhaust pollution levels through a new Cleaner Trucks Initiative (CTI).

On Tuesday, engine manufacturer Cummins Inc. said it would support EPA efforts to develop a national low NOx (nitrogen oxides) rule for on-highway heavy-duty engines, saying the initiative met requests by industry advocates for emission reductions regulations that are more effective and efficient. The new Cleaner Trucks Initiative notice of proposed rulemaking is slated to be released in 2020, allowing engine vendors sufficient lead time to refine and validate new technologies and ensure adoption, Cummins said.

"Cummins has a long history of working with regulators to help develop tough, clear and enforceable standards that lead to a cleaner, healthier and safer environment," Jennifer Rumsey, Vice President and Chief Technical Officer at Cummins, said in a statement. "We can and should do more to reduce NOx. This is an important step forward because a streamlined, national regulatory program brings consistency across the country allowing manufacturers to develop cleaner, more cost-effective solutions for our customers."

Additional support came from trade groups the Diesel Technology Forum and the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA).