Obama joins the fight for fuel efficiency

Fleet operators and shippers in South Africa will benefit from an order signed by United States president Barack Obama that will force truck makers to reduce greenhouse emissions and fuel consumption significantly by 2016. Given the global nature of the trucking industry, any technology introduced into the American or European markets will become standard for vehicles produced by manufacturers based in those regions. Under its SuperTruck programme, the Obama Administration has been working with truck manufacturers to improve the freight hauling efficiency of heavy-duty Class 8 (heavy) trucks by 50% between 2010 and 2015. America’s second round of fuel efficiency standards announced earlier in 2014 will build on the country’s first-ever standards for medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles. European truck manufacturers, which invest an estimated 30 billion Euro a year in research, are also focusing on improving engine efficiency and reducing emissions. Regulations passing through the European parliament will also affect the design of trucks. The legislation will make European cabs more aerodynamic.