Truckers slow it down to save on diesel

Simple plan expected save 86 billion gallons of fuel over the next 10 years

WASHINGTON – Struggling with record diesel prices, the trucking industry’s main trade group on Thursday introduced a plan to reduce fuel consumption and emissions over the next decade mainly by having its members slow down.

The American Trucking Associations, whose members include FedEx Corp., UPS Inc. and Con-way Inc., says adherence to a handful of new proposals will reduce fuel consumption by 86 billion gallons and carbon dioxide emissions


● Limit the speed new trucks can travel to no more than 68 mph and reduce the national speed limit to 65 mph for all vehicles.

● Reduce engine idling.

● Increase fuel efficiency through participation in an Environmental Protection Agency partnership program.

● Ease congestion by improving the nation’s highways, through a fuels tax increase if necessary.

● Use more productive truck combinations.

● Support national fuel economy standards for trucks.

Congress repealed the national speed limit law in 1995, and 32 states now have limits of 70 mph or higher on some parts of their highways, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. But the ATA has yet to find a federal lawmaker to champion its cause of reducing the national limit.

AP