WASHINGTON - The Diesel Technology Forum announced that all major heavy-duty truck and engine manufacturers have met new Environmental Protection Agency standards for emissions cuts and have been certified by EPA for full production.

The new diesel trucks are equipped with particulate matter filters that trap emissions, which and result in 2007 trucks being 90 percent cleaner than the previous generation of trucks. Nitrogen oxide emissions have also been reduced significantly with new technology.

"With the government certification of heavy-duty trucks now official, we can celebrate another milestone in the clean diesel transformation," said Forum executive director Allen Schaeffer. "The nationwide availability of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel in October 2006 provided 97 percent cleaner diesel fuel, enabling manufacturers to engineer the cleanest diesel trucks ever. With government certifications officially recognizing the success of the new diesel engines in drastically cutting emissions, all Americans can celebrate a stunning clean air achievement. Truck and engine makers stepped up to the challenge, and now we've all met it."

Manufacturers now certified by the EPA include Caterpillar, Cummins, Detroit Diesel Corp., International, Mack and Volvo, meaning each is compliant with the most stringent diesel emissions standards in the world. The EPA predicts that these new trucks - once they fully replace the existing fleet - will reduce emissions of smog-forming gases by 2.6 million tons each year, and cut soot emissions by 110,000 tons annually.