EPA Proposes Eliminating Diesel Exhaust Fluid Deratements to Save Truckers $12 Billion
The EPA proposed a rule on July 9, 2026, to eliminate diesel exhaust fluid deratements and ease warranty requirements, estimating $12 billion in savings for truckers.
- $12 billion
- $6,000
- Nearly 90%
- 45 days
What Happened
The Trump EPA on July 9, 2026, announced a proposal to revise what it calls unworkable Biden-era compliance requirements for heavy-duty diesel engines. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the plan is estimated to save American truckers $12 billion, with savings up to $6,000 per vehicle on new truck purchases. The agency says the savings can be passed to American families through lower costs for food, household goods, and other products trucks deliver.
“Americans depend on reliable trucks to move essential goods across the country. If finalized, these changes will help manufacturers keep improving their vehicles without being forced to rush products to market before they're ready.”
The proposal would completely remove deratements and vehicle speed restrictions for newly manufactured highway engines and vehicles, plus new nonroad engines and equipment including agricultural machinery. Instead of trucks and tractors lurching to a halt when DEF systems fail, operators would get visible or audible alerts so they can continue until they safely address the problem. EPA is also taking public comment on whether guidance should be developed to apply the change to in-use engines and equipment.
EPA issued guidance calling on engine and equipment manufacturers to revise DEF system software in existing vehicles to reverse deratements.
EPA demanded data on DEF system failures from 14 manufacturers that account for over 80% of products used in DEF systems, received the data, and is reviewing it.
EPA reaffirmed that farmers and operators have the Right to Repair their own equipment, including faulty DEF systems.
EPA clarified that manufacturers can stop inaccurate DEF system failures by removing traditional emission sensors and switching to NOX sensors.
EPA issued guidance advancing freedom to fix for all Americans, following President Trump's 'Lowering the Cost of Living by Promoting the Freedom to Fix' memorandum.
EPA is also proposing to scale back emissions warranty requirements that added the largest single cost to the trucking industry, while maintaining nearly 90% of nitrogen oxide reductions. It would add lead time before the longer regulatory useful life requirements from the 2023 rule take effect. Truck and engine manufacturers, suppliers, fleets, and dealerships have warned that the NOx provisions were unattainable within the given timeframe, so EPA is proposing nonconformance penalties for certain heavy-duty diesel engines that temporarily cannot meet the new standards. The agency says this will prevent supply disruptions, preserve consumer choice, and not disadvantage companies already meeting the standards, and a 45-day public comment period plus a public hearing will follow.
“Administrator Zeldin is continuing to deliver for our nation's farmers, ranchers, and truckers on an issue that has shown the true cost of government overreach. This proposal to eliminate engine deratements and reform the Biden era DEF requirements will lower costs, increase safety, and keep our nation's food supply moving.”
“The Trump Administration is taking a commonsense approach to alleviating burdensome diesel regulations on behalf of farmers, truckers, and small business owners who were crushed by unworkable environmental activist demands that became costly mandates.”
Why this matters
Truckers currently can lose power suddenly when DEF systems fail, hurting safety and productivity. The proposal would let them keep driving with alerts, cut new-truck costs by up to $6,000 per vehicle, and those savings could lower prices for delivered food and household goods. EPA says it keeps nearly 90% of nitrogen oxide reductions while giving manufacturers more time and flexibility.
Terms in This Story
- DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid)
- A fluid used in diesel engines to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions; failures in the DEF system can trigger deratements.
- Deratement
- A reduction in engine power or maximum speed, often triggered automatically when an emissions system fault is detected.
- NOx
- Nitrogen oxides, a group of air pollutants formed during combustion; the EPA regulates them from heavy-duty diesel engines.
- Right to Repair
- The principle that vehicle and equipment owners can have their products serviced or repaired by themselves or by independent shops, not only by the manufacturer.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.