Heads up, New Mexico truckers! Yours is the latest state to consider a truck idling limit.

OOIDA has learned that the New Mexico Environment Department is working on a proposed idling limit for commercial trucks.

The New Mexico Environment Department held a meeting in Santa Fe on Jan. 9 and has released the dates of three more “informational open houses” in January regarding the idling limits. Here’s where and when:

• In Mesilla, NM, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 16, in the Board of Trustees Room at the Mesilla Town Hall, located at 2231 Avenida de Mesilla;
• In Gallup, NM, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 23, in the Octavia Fellin Public Library Meeting Room, 115 W. Hill Ave.; and
• In Santa Rosa, NM, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 30, in the City Hall meeting room, located at 244 S. 4th St.

OOIDA calls all truckers to pay close attention to what your state is doing about truck idling.  Florida, Minnesota and Colorado all have moved to develop idling limits in recent months as part of broader greenhouse gas emission reduction initiative, and as you know, on Jan. 1, California implemented its five-minute limit.

Don’t wait until the rules are on the books to let your legislators know how it impacts you. Truckers must get involved with the process. You may not be able to stop idling restrictions in your state, but speaking up for sensible exemptions and reasonable enforcement can make it a rule trucking can live with.

Thanks for your support.