Got some trailers that need replacing? Prices for new ones are probably going to jump up soon. Phase 2 of the federal government’s greenhouse gas mandates are now in effect, and trailer manufacturers are the first ones affected.
Starting in 2018, new trailers will have to meet new standards that include updated tire technologies and aerodynamic systems. The requirements are aimed at increasing fuel economy and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
The new rules were issued by the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. They also offered estimates of how much more the new trailers will cost, focusing largely on van and reefer trailers. Transport Topics reported that requirements will probably add “about $860 to the cost of a 2021 trailer, $1,015 to the cost of a 2024 unit, and $1,090 for a 2027 model,” compared to the cost of a 2017 model.
Truck and engine makers will have new mandates beginning in 2021. “The typical buyer of a new long-haul truck in 2027 could recoup the extra cost of the technology in under two years through fuel savings,” according to an EPA study.
