Senators introduce legislation to nullify recent heavy-duty EPA regs

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Trucking news and briefs for Friday, Feb. 10, 2023:

Republican Senators seek to overturn EPA’s latest heavy-duty emissions regs

A group of 34 Republican Senators, led by Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), on Thursday introduced legislation that would overturn new emissions standards on heavy-duty trucks that were finalized in December.

The Environmental Protection Agency in December updated emission standards for heavy-duty commercial vehicles for the 2027 model year, tightening tailpipe NOx limits to a level 80%-plus below the current standard and reducing the particulate matter limit by 50%. 

The regulation would also require that OEMs extend warranties to 450,000 miles from 100,000 and useful life limits to 650,000 miles from 435,000 miles.

Fischer said the rule would hit owner-operators and small fleets the hardest, adding that it would also incentivize operators to continue using older equipment, nullifying the effects of the rule.

“The Biden Administration is saddling the trucking industry with an onerous regulation that would jack up vehicle costs and hurt good paying jobs,” Fischer said. “This aggressive EPA rule – which will hit mom and pop truck operations the hardest – is also ineffective because it incentivizes operators to keep using older, higher-emitting trucks for longer.”

If passed and signed into law, the legislation would give the EPA rule “no force or effect.”

[Related: Trucking groups slam 'challenging' new EPA rule that slashes truck emissions limits]

Load One brings on new CFO

Load One LLC (CCJ Top 250, No. 176), a leading provider of expedited transportation and logistics services, announced Thursday that Davis Chaffin has joined the company as its new Chief Financial Officer.

Davis ChaffinDavis ChaffinChaffin brings more than 15 years of financial, operational and accounting experience to Load One, previously serving as Chief Financial Officer at Rochester Sensors and having held various leadership positions with Bridgestone Americas and The Carlstar Group.

As CFO, Chaffin will oversee the company’s key financial functions, drive strategic initiatives, and build upon the Load One’s commitment to delivering exceptional service to its customers in helping them address their time-critical, time-sensitive, and high-value freight needs.

“I am thrilled to become a part of the Load One family,” said Chaffin. “I’m extremely impressed with the quality of the Company’s people, longstanding history of outstanding client service, and strong customer relationships. I look forward to driving future growth opportunities and building upon the Load One platform.”