By Jessica Domel
Multimedia Reporter

To keep farmers in the field and trucks on the road while protecting the environment, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued guidance to engine and equipment manufacturers that will allow farmers and drivers more time to repair faults in their Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) system before it shuts down.

The guidance, issued by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and U.S. Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler, urges manufacturers to revise DEF system software in existing vehicles and machinery to prevent sudden slowdowns and shutdowns due to a lack of DEF in the system.

“We have heard loud and clear from small businesses across the United States that the current DEF system is unacceptable. It is unacceptable that farmers, truckers, construction workers and many other small businesses continually experience failures of diesel-powered equipment when they need it most—costing millions of dollars in lost productivity,” Zeldin said.

When a machine or truck with a DEF system runs out of DEF, the system can force the vehicle to drastically reduce speed or become inoperable.

“It takes them out of the field, away from harvest or whatever they’re trying to get done,” Scott Mason, EPA Region 6 Administrator, said. “It takes hours out of the day. It costs them a lot of money. That’s why we are fixing this problem right now.”

The new guidance and software updates give drivers and farmers more time to repair those systems before the system shuts down.

“Manufacturers can and are starting to deal with this right now. They can right now revise the software and existing vehicles that triggers these shutdowns. Going forward, in 2027, all new trucks that are diesel will have to be engineered to avoid these sudden and severe power losses,” Mason said. “Now what this looks like is, for farmers for non-road equipment, they will have no impact to performance for 36 hours, at which point a 25% torque reduction would take effect and this will last for a hundred hours. Then, at that point, a 50% torque reduction would take effect.”

For heavy trucks, the driver will see a light come on alerting them to the issue with the DEF system.

“Just the light will come on for 650 miles or roughly 10 hours. Then, the engine is derated 15%, which won’t limit the vehicle speed. The engine will continue to perform like this, not limiting the truck’s ability to accomplish its mission for the next 4,200 miles or roughly. We estimated two work weeks before it reduces any further power. They will have up to 10,500 miles before they lose speed that would take the vehicle down to 25 miles an hour,” Mason said. “This gives them reasonable time to make repairs to keep their operations rolling while still reducing emissions from diesel engines.”

Mason said the guidance from EPA is a response to concerns farmers and truck drivers have brought to the agency regarding DEF slowdowns.

“This has been an issue. We had a round table discussion in western Oklahoma a couple of months ago, and I remember this became the topic of discussion at that round table,” Mason said. “Farmers and ranchers were fed up with having to deal with DEF issues. I took that immediately back to Administrator Zelin the next day and to our Office of Air. They got to work on it. They were really interested in what farmers and ranchers were saying, not only to us but also to them, as well.”

The guidance, Mason said, ensures farmers and truck drivers can keep on working while still protecting the environment.

“We really believe that this new guidance is going to help not only farmers and ranchers, but really anyone who relies on diesel vehicles to get their work done,” Mason said. “In the Trump administration, we are all about powering the Great American comeback. What that really means is protection of the environment while also growing the economy. You can’t grow the economy if you’re having to take time out of your day to deal with these side issues of your vehicle slowing down to a snail space because of the DEF fluid or something like that.”

The guidance also addresses some life-or-death issues related to DEF slowdowns.

“We have even heard of instances where there have been first responders, such as ambulance, diesel vehicles that have been trying to get patients to a hospital and the vehicle, the ambulance, slows down to about five miles an hour or something in that neighborhood,” Mason said. “In other words, it becomes an even more life-threatening situation. So, that’s why we’re putting our foot down and saying no more.”

Allowing those operating diesel vehicles more time to repair an issue with their DEF system can save money, according to Mason.

“The guidance ensures that existing vehicles on the road or in the field are just as dependable as new vehicles and equipment, and they don’t have these issues in the future. They have time to get these problems resolved and frankly, at the end of the day, it’s also going to save money,” Mason said. “The SBA estimated that it’ll save $727 million annually for farmers alone with an additional saving savings for truckers and other sectors of our economy.”

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said the action by EPA is another example of President Trump’s cabinet working hand-in-hand to cut “absurd and wasteful government regulations that tie the hands of our farmers, ranchers and business owners.”

She said the common sense reform will allow agricultural producers to spend more time in the fields than in a repair shop.