Protecting Public Health & Environmental Justice from Diesel Reefer TRU Rollbacks

BRIEFING DOCUMENT-Diesel Regulation-Clean Air PM2.5 Reduction Advocacy.

Title: Protecting Public Health & Environmental Justice from Diesel Reefer TRU Rollbacks

1. The Urgent Issue

The EPA’s current mandate regulating diesel-powered refrigerated trailer units (TRUs) is under threat of being rolled back within the next 45 days.

• These units are a silent but deadly source of air pollution, disproportionately impacting frontline and underserved communities.

• Manufacturers of diesel TRUs (Thermo King, Carrier) are lobbying heavily for the rollback.

Key Public Health Threats:

• Black Carbon (PM2.5): A potent carcinogen linked to lung cancer, heart disease, asthma, and premature death.

• Noise & Workplace Hazards: Excessive operational noise and exposure risk for logistics workers and surrounding neighborhoods.

2. The Scope of the Problem

• 1 diesel TRU = 27+ tons of toxic emissions annually

• 600,000+ diesel TRUs nationwide

• ~16 million tons of toxic emissions per year from TRUs alone

• High concentration of units in urban food distribution hubs and near schools, hospitals, and residential areas

3. Why This Regulation Matters

The existing EPA emission mandate:

• Enforces accountability for the most harmful mobile emitters in the food supply chain.

• Protects environmental justice communities suffering the highest exposure burden.

• Aligns with the 2009 Endangerment Finding by addressing pollutants proven to harm human health.

A rollback would:

• Remove incentives for industry to transition to cleaner technologies.

• Increase healthcare costs from pollution-related illnesses.

• Reverse more than a decade of environmental health progress.

4. The Proven Solution – AEM SolarTechTRU

• Zero-Emission Operation: Eliminates black carbon and PM2.5 at the source.

• Low-Voltage DC Infrastructure: Safer, more efficient, reduces grid stress, supports resilient microgrids.

• CARB CORE Success: Tens of millions in vouchers awarded and deployed.

• Proven Viability: Over a decade of operational success in real-world food distribution.

Benefits Beyond Emissions:

• Lower operational costs for carriers and distributors.

• Improved worker safety.

• Energy resilience in disaster and grid-strain situations.

5. Call to Action

We urge the EPA, legal advocates, and policy stakeholders to:

1. Maintain and enforce the current EPA diesel TRU regulations.

2. Recognize zero-emission TRU technology as commercially viable today.

3. Strengthen enforcement in environmental justice communities.

4. Support transition funding for small and mid-sized fleet operators.

Contact for Collaboration:
Erika Feinberg, Chief Communications Officer
Advanced Energy Machines - SolarTechTRU

🌐 www.aem.green

Zero Emission TRUs

Safe Industrial Solar Microgrids

AI Automatic/Cordless Charging

Thermal Storage

Hydrogen Fuel Cells/Range Extenders