ATA Applauds Bill Providing Financial Incentives to Reduce Idling

ARLINGTON, Va., July 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Trucking
Associations (ATA) applauds Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and Kay Granger
(R-Texas) for their sponsorship of H.R. 3383, which provides tax credits for
the purchase of idling reduction systems for diesel-powered on-highway
vehicles.

Known as the "Idle Reduction Tax Act of 2009," the bill proposes a 50 percent
tax credit, up to $3,000 for each truck for which an idling reduction device
is purchased. The equipment is designed to replace the main engine's support
of essential truck functions, including heating or air conditioning, when the
truck is parked. The credit would be available to all trucking companies.

"ATA appreciates the leadership of Rep. Blumenauer and Rep. Granger to make
the purchase of idle reduction systems more affordable and widely distributed
among fleets," said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. "The initial capital
cost of idle-reducing technologies has been a major barrier to trucking
companies. This legislation will allow us to move forward with industry-wide
efforts to reduce air pollution and fuel consumption related to idling."

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimated that on-board idle
reduction technologies, which include auxiliary power units, direct-fired
heaters and battery-powered climate control systems, reduce idle-related fuel
consumption by at least 80 percent. Conserving fuel reduces the nation's
dependence on foreign oil sources.

Reducing discretionary idling -- when drivers idle their engines during their
rest period -- through new technologies is one of ATA's six sustainability
recommendations. The sustainability plan will reduce fuel consumption by 86
billion gallons and thus reduce the carbon footprint of all vehicles by nearly
a billion tons over 10 years.

Click here to view all of ATA's sustainability recommendations.

To read H.R. 3383, click here.

The American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association
for the trucking industry. Through a federation of other trucking groups,
industry-related conferences, and its 50 affiliated state trucking
associations, ATA represents more than 37,000 members covering every type of
motor carrier in the United States.

SOURCE American Trucking Associations

Clayton Boyce of American Trucking Associations, +1-703-838-7902 or
+1-703-408-3716