ALEXANDRIA, VA – The American Trucking Associations (ATA) has endorsed a proposed tax credit to encourage the purchase of idling reduction equipment for commercial vehicles. According to an ATA release, the bill — known as the Idle Reduction Tax Act of 2006 — proposes a 25 percent tax credit of up to $1,000 for each idling reduction device purchased by fleets. This equipment is designed to provide essential truck functions, including heat or air conditioning, which are normally powered by the truck’s main engine. The credit would be available to all trucking companies and was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Kay Granger (R-Tex.) as part of industry-wide efforts to reduce air pollution and fuel consumption. The proposed tax credit comes as the trucking industry prepares to introduce new trucks into their fleets with lower-emission engines mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) beginning in 2007. Financial incentives under Representative Granger’s bill will advance the integration of idling reduction devices in fleet operations and result in the industry curbing diesel emissions even further while conserving fuel. EPA estimates suggest that one truck consumes eight gallons of diesel fuel for every 10 hours of idling a main engine. This averages out to be 2,400 gallons of diesel fuel used to idle a single truck’s main engine each year. The release notes that idle reduction will help trucking companies save thousands of dollars each year, and saving on fuel may also free up more money for capital investments, as well as reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil sources.