Trailer Emission Standards Suspended

Summary#

The federal government issued the Interim Order Modifying the Operation of the Heavy-duty Vehicle and Engine Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations (Trailer Standards) on March 13, 2023. It temporarily stops the trailer-specific parts of the Heavy-duty Vehicle and Engine Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations from applying to trailers completed on or after January 1, 2020.

What it does#

• Temporarily suspends the trailer provisions of the Heavy-duty Vehicle and Engine Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations for trailers whose manufacture was completed on or after January 1, 2020.
• The order was made under the authority of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.
• The government says this step responds to an inconsistency with U.S. rules after a U.S. court decision (the Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association, Inc. v. Environmental Protection Agency decision on November 12, 2021).
• The suspension is temporary. The order will stop being effective no later than one year after it was made, or earlier if the Governor in Council approves changes, or if the regulation is amended or repealed.

Who's affected#

• Trailer manufacturers and companies that build or modify heavy‑duty trailers.
• Trucking and freight companies that buy, register, or operate new trailers built on or after January 1, 2020.
• Regulators and compliance officers who track greenhouse‑gas rules for heavy vehicles.
• It does not clearly change rules for other parts of heavy‑duty vehicles or for trailers built before January 1, 2020.

Why it matters#

• For affected manufacturers and fleet owners, the order removes the immediate legal requirement to meet the trailer-specific emission standards. That can change design choices, compliance plans, and costs in the short term.
• The move aims to keep Canada’s trailer rules aligned with recent U.S. developments. That matters for companies that operate or sell trailers across the Canada–U.S. border.
• Because the change is temporary, businesses and the public should watch for further regulatory action that could restore, change, or replace these trailer standards.