ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- American Trucking Associations praised the Obama administration for their work to set, for the first time, fuel efficiency standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks.

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"Today's announcement by President Obama is welcome news to us in the trucking industry," ATA President and CEO Bill Graves said. "Our members have been pushing for the setting of fuel efficiency standards for some time and today marks the culmination of those efforts."

In 2007, ATA endorsed a six-point sustainability program that included a proposal to set technologically feasible efficiency standards.

"While it is too early to know all the potential effects of this rule, we do know it sets us on the path to a future where we depend less on foreign oil, spend less on fuel and contribute less to climate change," Graves said. "ATA is pleased that President Obama, Secretary LaHood and Administrator Jackson have taken this historic step, but we believe these new standards are just one tool we should be using to cut fuel use by the trucking industry."

Graves said in addition to the standards, the U.S. should implement a national speed limit of 65 miles per hour for all vehicles and issue rules requiring trucks to be electronically governed at that speed; efforts should be made to reduce congestion, which leads to increased idling and wasted fuel, and provide incentives for technology that reduces idling while trucks are off the road; the federal government must continue its support of the incredibly successful EPA SmartWay program and finally, Congress must reform federal truck size and weight limits in order to allow the industry to operate its most productive and efficient vehicles.

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook. Good stuff. Trucks Bring It!

SOURCE American Trucking Associations