Clean Diesel Trucks Advancing On U.S. Highways

More than 28 percent of all trucks registered in the United States – 2.5 million of 8.6 million trucks - are now equipped with advanced new technology clean diesel engines, according to new data compiled by R.L. Polk and Company for the Diesel Technology Forum (DTF).

The Polk data includes registration information on Class 3-8 trucks from 2007 through 2012 in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Beginning in 2007, all heavy duty diesel trucks sold had to meet particulate emissions levels of 0.01 grams per brake horse-power hour (g/HP-hr) - a level near zero. 

“The fact that more than 28 percent of all trucks on U.S. roads today are new technology diesel engines with near zero emissions is significant for the environment and the trucking industry,” said Allen Schaeffer, the executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum.  “More than 95 percent of all heavy-duty trucks are diesel-powered, as are a majority of medium-duty trucks. Diesel power is the driving force today of goods movement by truck in our economy and they are continuing to play a central role of the United States' new effort to reduce fuel consumption and lower greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in the coming years. 

Regionally, the Midwest (31%) has the highest percent of new diesel trucks, followed by the South (29.8%), the Northeast (29.1%), and the West (26.0%).

New Diesel Trucks by Region

(Source: R.L. Polk and Company for the Diesel Technology Forum)

Midwest States: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin

Northeast States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont

South States: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia

West States: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming

Reduced NOx by 99% & PM by 98%

“Emissions from today’s diesel trucks and buses are near zero thanks to more efficient engines, more effective emissions control technology and the nationwide availability of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel,” Schaeffer said. “The new clean diesel technology has reduced emissions from heavy-duty diesel trucks and buses by 99 percent for nitrogen oxides (NOx) and 98 percent for particulate emissions. 

“Model year 2010 and later trucks are experiencing an average of three to five percent improvement in fuel economy,” he added. “Additional fuel-saving strategies are being developed to improve engine efficiency, vehicle aerodynamics and expanded application of hybrid technology. In addition, new diesel technology and ultra-low sulfur diesel are benefitting many of the older diesel trucks built before 2007.  Through the use of retrofit upgrades, older diesel engines can improve their performance and reduce key emissions by up to 90 percent.”

Clean Diesel Truck Growth by Year

                                 (Source: R.L. Polk and Company for the Diesel Technology Forum)

Top 10 New Technology Diesel Trucks States by 2012 Total

1)  Texas                      286,045

2)  Indiana                    169,509

3)  California                 168,965

4)  Illinois                     115,125

5)  Pennsylvania           113,020

6)  New York                  97,073

7)  Florida                      91,672

8)  Ohio                         88,671

9)  North Carolina           72,286

10) Georgia                    71,136

Top 10 New Technology Diesel Trucks States by 2012 Percentage

1)  Indiana                   44.0%

2)  Utah                       43.0%

3)  Oklahoma               37.0%

4)  Wyoming                36.9%

5)  Texas                     36.6%

6)  Nebraska                34.0%

7)  Louisiana                33.1%

8)  Maryland                 32.9%

9)  Pennsylvania           32.8%

10) Montana                32.7%