Washington – Following today’s announcement that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is removing the diesel exhaust fluid sensor requirement, American Trucking Associations Vice President of Energy & Environmental Affairs Patrick Kelly released this statement:
“The American Trucking Associations welcomes EPA’s updated guidance providing additional flexibility on diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) quality monitoring and preventing forced shutdowns.“As we have previously said, these systems have too often sidelined otherwise safe, compliant trucks due to faulty or unreliable DEF quality sensors, an issue that was compounded by widespread parts shortages in recent years. When a bad sensor can trigger a full inducement, the result is unnecessary downtime, unnecessary towing costs, strained supply chains, and higher costs across the board.
“EPA’s decision to provide manufacturers with flexibility to suspend these inducements—and eliminate problematic sensors altogether by monitoring a truck’s actual emissions—is a pragmatic solution that reflects how these systems perform in the real world.
“ATA appreciates EPA’s willingness to listen to industry and act. We will continue working with the agency and our industry partners to ensure emissions regulations are both effective and workable for the men and women who keep America’s goods moving."