The American Trucking Associations (ATA) and the Truck Renting and Leasing Association (TRALA) are two industry trade groups worried that the intent announced by the Environmental Protection Agency last week to “re-evaluate” parts the Phase 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) and fuel efficiency rules could be setting the stage for California to impose “de facto” national standards on the country.

“By reopening the rule to re-examine trailers and glider kits, EPA has opened the door to California taking the lead, and a more aggressive track, in setting trailer standards,” cautioned Chris Spear, ATA’s president and CEO, in a statement.

“ATA believes a single national standard, set by federal regulators, is preferable to at worst, a patchwork of state standards or at best, a de facto national standard that is set without the appropriate opportunity for the entire regulated community – many members of which are not based in California – to weigh in,” he said.

TRALA President and CEO Jake Jacoby is also concerned this may give the California Air Resources Board (CARB) an “opportunity” to enact a more stringent standard than what was finalized under the Phase 2 GHG rules last year.

"For a national industry to function efficiently, it is imperative that a national standard decided by the federal government is followed, and not a patchwork of states creating their own greenhouse gas standards,” he explained in a statement.

While Jacoby added that TRALA understands the concerns of many trailer manufacturers and their opposition to trailers being included in this rule as currently written, he emphasized that TRALA will continue to work with EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) – which both had a hand in writing the Phase 2 rules – in an attempt to ensure a national standard is adopted.

This story originally appeared at Fleet Owner