As the EPA looks to crack down on greenhouse gas emissions, truckers are the ones likely to pay the price and that could cost ag shippers more.
The Clean Truck Act is touted by the EPA as 80 percent stronger than current emission standards and affects heavy and medium duty trucks.
Small-fleet owners are not happy saying the last update to emissions standards in 2011 cost $20,000 per vehicle. They worry the new rule will significantly increase purchase costs for new rigs and shipping in general. Right now, the U.S. is in need of 78,000 more truck drivers which analysts say could be hard to fill with even stricter emissions standards and associated startup costs.
