Overview:
Reports from Department of Transportation staff and readers suggest government-owned diesel vehicles may have emissions systems removed to improve reliability and efficiency. But if that’s true, it raises questions about legality, fairness, and public safety. Presence News begins its investigation — and asks readers in the field to share what they’ve seen.
Across the country, whispers are growing louder in garages, maintenance yards, and online forums: are government-owned diesel vehicles running without emissions equipment?
Department of Transportation staff members tell Presence News that certain agency trucks have had exhaust emissions systems — like Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) injectors or filters — “deleted.” The justification, they claim, is reliability. “These systems break down too often,” one staffer reportedly said. “If we remove them, our vehicles stay on the road longer and we can actually do our jobs.”
That explanation might sound practical, but it leads to an uncomfortable contradiction. For private owners, removing emissions equipment is a felony under the Clean Air Act — carrying heavy fines and potential jail time.
So is there a double standard?
What the Law Says
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies emissions tampering as illegal for any person or entity — public or private. However, specific exemptions exist for tactical military vehicles or national security purposes. These are rare, narrowly written exceptions meant for defense and emergency operations, not routine government transportation.
Most city, county, or federal agency fleets are not exempt. That means removing emissions equipment, even from a government-owned vehicle, would technically violate federal law.
Yet comments from the field tell a more complicated story.
What Workers Are Saying
One mechanical engineer who weighed in on the topic wrote, “To increase efficiency, you need to increase stress and generate more power. The more stress on the system, the more likely parts are to fail.” That comment gained 45 likes from fellow readers.
A military service member added, “The U.S. military doesn’t have those pesky emissions systems — and honestly, it’s kind of nice.”
Another reader asked the question that drives this investigation:
“Why is it OK for government vehicles to run without emissions equipment, but civilians get fined or jailed for the same thing?”
Fleet Size and Environmental Impact
To put things in perspective, there are about 650,000 vehicles in the federal fleet (Not including state and local) — compared to over 280 million vehicles owned by individuals and companies nationwide. That means even if every government vehicle ran without emissions controls (and evidence suggests most don’t), their environmental footprint would be a fraction of the nation’s total.
Still, perception matters. If the public believes government fleets are cutting corners, it damages trust — and fuels resentment among those who pay to keep their own trucks compliant.
Reliability, Safety, and the Human Factor
Drivers also raise legitimate concerns about reliability. Diesel trucks with emissions systems can be sidelined for weeks waiting on recalled sensors or software updates. For commercial operators, that’s lost time and income. For government workers, it’s lost productivity.
There’s another risk that isn’t often discussed — roadside safety. When a vehicle breaks down due to emissions-system faults, the driver may be stranded in a dangerous location. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and AAA have documented rising numbers of roadside fatalities involving stranded motorists and tow workers. Robbery, vandalism, and secondary crashes remain real dangers.
Reliability isn’t just a comfort issue — it’s a safety issue.
Next Steps: Presence News Investigation
Presence News is opening an investigation to separate myth from fact.
But we also want to hear from you.
If you work in a government, municipal, or contractor fleet and have firsthand knowledge of emissions deletes, modifications, or recurring system failures, contact Presence News confidentially. Photos, service logs, or repair invoices can help verify what’s happening across America’s public vehicle fleets.
Your observations may help uncover whether this is a widespread practice or just a persistent myth.
Editor’s Note:
This article reflects the early stage of Presence News’ investigation into emissions-system practices within government fleets. The views expressed in quotes belong to individual sources and readers, not Presence News. Further reporting and verification are ongoing.
Source Links:
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Tampering and Defeat Devices
- General Services Administration – Federal Fleet Report
- AAA Foundation – Roadside Worker Safety
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