The US finally takes aim at truck bloat

Other countries can be good examples of policy that functions well. First and foremost, they should be included in the average fleet mpg rating for vehicle manufacturers. This is because they are a part of the fleet of vehicles produced and contribute a good sized portion of the greenhouse gasses emitted from vehicles. They are also one of the biggest number of vehicles sold so they shouldn't be exceptional.

I like your idea but I feel it is too in the weeds for simple policy.

Well... Back when a truck wasnt $60+k... Yes thats exactly what people did. They had a truck that guzzled gas and provided the bed space or towing capacity they needed for work, and a daily driver for other things.

From the last time I saw this 'debate'... ~30% of truck owners use the bed once a year or less, ~75% of owners tow once a year or less, and ~70% go offroad once a year or less.

Now, obviously there are applications where a truck is needed. That can't be denied... But there are so many applications here that use massive fucking trucks where another country would use a sprinter van or similar vehicle for the exact same application.

Unless your truck has an 8-foot bed for work, which would actually be longer than the front portion seating a family and therefore useful, it’s a silly waste of money. The point of a truck is hauling things, not people.

If you've got a two-income household and the worksites are in opposite directions, its pretty normal.

If you're required to have a truck to work you should probably be using one owned by your employer or written off as a business expense if you're self-employed.

Why? Just get a trailer.

Is that bigger or smaller than an H3? I haven't seen one on the road since Hummer went bust.

Where there's a will, there's a way

EPA has never banned small trucks. This is from consistent misinformation that shifts blame from car manufacturers to the government.

EPA made a scaled plan that required improvements to emissions from smaller trucks first, then larger trucks over the years.

Car manufacturers chose to abuse that flexibility by simply not making smaller trucks, instead of making ones that meet the standards, which is why trucks have steadily inflated in size in the US as they make whatever the next unregulated size class is that year.

You can of course partially blame EPA for not having the foresight to predict that would happen - but they also make regulations under pressure from politicians and lobbyists who are themselves influenced by car manufacturers.

The emissions laws they have in place isn't really a ban but instead just less encouraging of smaller trucks. The bigger the truck the emissions get easier to pass.

https://newrepublic.com/article/180263/epa-tailpipe-emissions-loophole

I believe that the OP means the Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act of 1988, which effectively bans kei trucks from import into the U.S. because they're not manufactured to the Act's standards.

Or, perhaps the Chicken Tax, a 25% tariff imposed on the import of light trucks in 1964 as part of trade dispute with Europe. It's still in effect, shielding American manufacturers from competition from smaller, lighter trucks.