On Friday, November 15, Pennsylvania state Senator Rosemary Brown (R-40) introduced Senate Bill 1348, offering a practical and cost-effective strategy to reduce truck emissions without imposing costly mandates. Implementing a solution proposed by the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association (PMTA), the bill provides a means to incentivize the replacement of older diesel trucks with "near-zero emission" models manufactured after 2010. 

The bill creates the Near Zero Emission Truck Incentive Program, providing state grants funded through federal pollution reduction allocations. These grants would help trucking companies offset the cost of purchasing new or newer diesel trucks.

Diesel trucks manufactured after 2010 qualify as “near zero” because they are significantly cleaner than their older counterparts. This is due to their compliance with EPA's stringent diesel emissions standards and advanced emission-control technologies like diesel particulate filters and selective catalytic reduction systems. Compared to pre-2010 models, these trucks reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by approximately 90% and particulate matter (PM) emissions by about 95%.

Grants would be available for 12% of the purchase price for new trucks and up to $5,000 for used trucks.

Key Highlights:

Immediate Emissions Reductions: By retiring pre-2010 trucks, the program delivers tangible environmental benefits.

Economic Feasibility: The plan avoids unrealistic electric mandates, making upgrades attainable for businesses of all sizes.

Broad Legislative Support: Sponsored by Sen. Brown and backed by bipartisan co-sponsors, the bill prioritizes both environmental and economic sustainability.

Industry-Driven Advocacy: PMTA advocates for practical solutions that align environmental goals with the realities of Pennsylvania’s trucking industry.

Alongside emissions reductions, the safety advantages of newer trucks are also a significant benefit of encouraging the replacement of older trucks. Trucks manufactured after 2010 are required to meet stricter federal safety regulations and often include enhanced safety systems and advanced designs, leading to immediate safety improvements.

Though the 2023-24 legislative session expires at the end of the year, SB 1348 is expected to be reintroduced in the new legislative session in the new year. It represents a win-win for emissions reduction and operational viability for Pennsylvania trucking companies, leveraging federal resources to modernize fleets and leads the way to lower emissions in the trucking industry in a way that’s economical, effective, and practical.

For more details, see Senate Bill 1348.