Trump administration moves to relax fuel efficiency standards for commercial trucks

The Trump administration on Friday moved to relax fuel efficiency standards for medium- and heavy-duty commercial trucks.

The Transportation Department took aim at Obama-era standards, arguing that they exceed the scope of the government’s authority.

The Obama administration set standards for both the whole vehicle and its engine. The Trump administration now says that the government does not have the authority to set engine standards, it and published a new interpretation saying so.

While the new interpretation does not formally wipe out the Obama-era engine standards, the department implied in a press release that it would not enforce them while it finalizes a rule to formalize the change.

“American innovators — not Big Government — know how best to design vehicle engines. The Trump Administration is getting out of the way so manufacturers can decide how they want to meet fuel efficiency requirements,” said Jonathan Morrison, who leads the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The move is the latest in a series of Trump administration efforts to reduce regulations on vehicles, including those related to fuel efficiency, climate and pollution.

Environmental activists criticized the move, saying that less efficient vehicles means higher fuel costs.

“Weakening fuel efficiency standards for heavy-duty trucks means locking truckers and businesses into greater dependence on diesel and greater exposure to volatile fuel prices, costs that will ultimately get passed down to consumers,” Sierra Club Clean Transportation for All Director Katherine García said in a written statement.