Ever been stuck behind a big truck or passed through a busy trucking area? You can smell the diesel fumes and you know they’re bad for you—and they are.
Recent research shows that diesel trucks produced by the top 4 manufacturers in the world between 2014 and 2023 will account for around 307,000 premature deaths worldwide by 2040.[X]Heavy Duty Hearm, CREA (2025)
What makes emissions dangerous? When trucks burn diesel, they produce exhaust containing Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5), two pollutants that can trigger asthma, heart disease, and even premature death. This is especially true for people who are in constant contact with these pollutants.
For those who live near ports and highways, or who drive trucks, breathing this toxic air is a daily reality. There’s no escape. For truck drivers, it’s not just the air outside. They’re also exposed to high levels of diesel pollution inside their cabs.
