LOUISVILLE, KY – Freightliner LLC President and CEO Chris Patterson told manufacturers gathered at the Mid-America Trucking show that U.S. and Canadian governments must help spur new, environmentally friendly technologies by providing greater incentives to fleet owners. By failing to provide incentives to truck buyers in support of buying cleaner 2007 engines, both governments have left many fleet operators with no option but to avoid purchasing the more expensive new diesel engines. In fact, Patterson theorized that U.S. EPA’s current standards and the lack of viable incentives encourage the longer use of older, more polluting engines. According to Today’s Trucking, Patterson puts the blame for a slow in technology growth squarely on policy makers’ shoulders, saying, “In my opinion this is bad public policy.” Patterson also told Today’s Trucking that due to lack of incentives, 2007 sales have been affected, and “that fully 70 percent of his [Freightliner] company’s existing orders are booked for the second half of the year. Hardest hit are sales to the over-the-road class 8 market, the company’s core strength.” Early results from field use shows the new cleaner engines are proving reliable and liked by drivers.