Trucks Gone Green?
This image comes courtesy of TrucksDeliver.org, not the Onion.
If BP can stand for "Beyond Petroleum," what's to stop the trucking industry from claiming to "deliver a cleaner tomorrow"? Not much, apparently.
In a story about the current practices of K Street lobbyists, the Washington Post reports that even the American Trucking Associations -- a national trade group -- is adopting an eco-friendly tone:
Record gasoline prices have done more than boost advertising budgets for worried energy lobbies. They also have turned long-held positions of significant lobbying groups upside down -- and decidedly pro-environmental.
The American Trucking Associations last week did a 180 (or pretty close to that) on two key issues. In news releases notable for their use of the color green, the truck company lobby said it would accept a fuel tax increase -- once its most hated policy proposal -- if the extra revenue went toward reducing highway congestion. It also suggested tougher fuel economy standards for trucks, another shocker for the trucking industry.
Guess the ATA might have to iron out some differences with Truckers and Citizens United, a more grassroots-style group that staged a gas-guzzling, street-clogging "rally" in Washington last month to protest the price of fuel.
To get its green message across, the ATA has launched a campaign called "Trucks Deliver" touting six steps to reduce the industry's emissions. Their congestion mitigation strategy comes after the jump.
The American Trucking Associations advocates initiatives to improve highway infrastructure and reduce congestion.
Relieving highway congestion is a critically important strategy for reducing carbon emissions. Improving the nation’s highway infrastructure is a long-rangechallenge, and the American Trucking Associations has recommended a20-year program, focused initially on fixing critical bottlenecks. Longer-range ideas include creating truck-only corridors which wouldpermit carriers to further increase the use of more productivevehicles. The needed infrastructure improvements can be paid for with adedicated fuel tax if necessary. If congestion in all 437 urban areaswere eliminated, the reduction in truck CO2 emissions would be 45.2 million tons over ten years -- equal to the annual output of a population the size of the State of Colorado.
Whether the "Trucks Deliver" campaign is an exercise in green-washing,
an adaptation to new economic realities, or a sincere effort to reduce
the trucking industry's carbon footprint, one thing is clear: They'd
still rather not broach the subject of freight rail.
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Monday’s Headlines Are All About Pete
From trying to avert a government shutdown to promoting rail safety, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is in the midst of a busy week.
What is the Life of a Dead Pedestrian Worth?
A Seattle police officer sparked outrage when he joked that the death of pedestrian Jaahnavi Kandula might be settled for as little as $11,000. Some families get even less.
Friday’s Headlines Are Tired Out
Whether it's from degradation or the dust resulting from wear and tear, it's becoming increasingly clear that tire and brake emissions are harmful, perhaps even exceeding tailpipe emissions.
Study: What Road Diets Mean For Older Drivers
"After a road diet, all motorists seem to drive at a rate that feels comfortable to a mildly-impaired older adult."
Op-Ed: Why Is Fare Evasion Punished More Severely than Speeding?
A.B. 819 offers California the opportunity to decriminalize fare evasion and replace punitive measures with more equitable approaches.
