The trucking industry is at a critical juncture, navigating the complex transition toward a low-carbon future. As regulatory bodies push for aggressive emissions reductions, the gap between climate ambitions and the realities of engineering, manufacturing, and compliance presents a significant challenge for corporations. This landscape requires a new kind of expert who can translate policy into practice.
Muhammad Waleed Saleem, a certification engineer at Volvo Group Trucks, embodies this role. With a Master's in Mechanical Engineering from Texas Tech University and a background that includes both climate advocacy with the Citizens' Climate Lobby and powertrain engineering, Saleem operates at the intersection of environmental ideals and corporate implementation.
His expertise is in ensuring that heavy-duty vehicles meet stringent standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB), grounding sustainability goals in tangible engineering solutions.
From Idealism to Implementation
The transition from advocacy to corporate engineering reveals the intricate layers of bringing sustainable transport to market. For many, the goal is straightforward, but technical and regulatory hurdles constrain the path. Saleem notes the difference between setting bold goals and executing them within a highly regulated industry.
"Honestly, the most surprising part has been realizing how much nuance there is between idealism and implementation," he says. At Volvo, Saleem learned that even with a collective desire to go green, manufacturers operate within layers of regulation and cost constraints. This reality is reflected in new federal rules like the EPA's Phase 3 Greenhouse Gas standards, which set ambitious targets for heavy-duty vehicles.
Every innovation, from electric drivetrains to aerodynamics, must be balanced with performance, reliability, and affordability. "You can't just make something sustainable; it also has to be manufacturable, serviceable, and affordable for fleets," Saleem adds. The industry's adaptation to these challenges demonstrates that climate ideals are not disappearing but are being translated into engineering reality, amidst concerns over costs and infrastructure that fuel industry pushback against aggressive timelines.
The Human Element in Regulation
Interpreting complex regulatory language from bodies like the EPA and CARB is more than a technical exercise; it involves a significant human element. These standards represent a societal push for cleaner, healthier transportation, a goal that requires careful translation into actionable engineering tasks. This often means navigating competing priorities within a large organization.
"Every regulation from the EPA or CARB represents not just numbers or limits, but a collective effort to make transportation cleaner and healthier for people," Saleem explains. His role is to help technical teams remain compliant without stifling innovation, such as by leveraging new flexibilities in regulations like CARB's amended clean truck standards. This balance is crucial for responsible progress.
The work requires collaboration between engineers, designers, and business leaders to push boundaries where possible. "The most rewarding part is knowing that behind every compliance report or emissions test, there's a human impact—fewer pollutants, cleaner air, and a small but meaningful step toward a better future," he states. This perspective is vital as regulators scrutinize the reach of state-level rules, with the EPA questioning the legality of California's Clean Truck Check for out-of-state vehicles.
Bridging Advocacy and Corporate Reality
Having experienced both climate advocacy and corporate engineering, Saleem has a unique perspective on the misconceptions each side holds about the other. He observes that those outside the industry often underestimate the complexity of implementing sustainable solutions at scale, while corporate teams can sometimes view advocates as idealistic.
"People outside the industry often think corporations move slowly because they lack commitment, when in reality, it's because turning sustainability goals into compliant, scalable engineering solutions is incredibly complex," Saleem notes. This dynamic is central to the work of insider social change agents, who navigate corporate structures to drive environmental progress.
He emphasizes that the passion and urgency from advocates are essential for maintaining momentum. "Progress happens when both perspectives meet—when advocacy fuels ambition, and engineering turns that ambition into something tangible and lasting," he says. This approach aligns with research on how individuals can channel prior activism into effective corporate change by aligning social issues with business objectives.
A Personal Connection to Sustainability
For Saleem, the motivation to navigate the intricate process of emissions compliance is rooted in a personal connection to the natural world. Activities like hiking and kayaking serve as a constant reminder of what is at stake, transforming a technical job into a purpose-driven mission.
"Spending time outdoors is really what keeps me grounded. It's a reminder of why this work matters beyond the data and regulations," he shares. This connection provides the patience needed for the slow, incremental work of improving environmental performance, a process made more complex by recent regulatory shifts like CARB's withdrawal of a key waiver request for its Advanced Clean Fleets rule.
This personal drive helps make each small victory feel meaningful in the face of widespread challenges. "I know that each small step—a cleaner engine, a tighter standard—adds up to protecting the places that give me peace and perspective," Saleem reflects. Following the waiver withdrawal, regulators have stated they will utilize other programs to continue advancing emissions reductions, underscoring the persistent effort required, as noted by CARB Chair Liane Randolph.
The Journey of a Data Point
Complex simulation tools are at the heart of modern vehicle compliance, turning abstract regulatory targets into concrete design choices. Saleem uses the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Model (GEM) to assess the CO2 impact of different vehicle configurations, demonstrating how digital modeling drives tangible environmental outcomes.
"That number isn't just a statistic; it represents how design choices—like aerodynamics, tire type, or engine calibration—affect CO2 emissions in real-world conditions," he explains. The accuracy of these tools is critical, with the Phase 2 GEM validated against extensive physical test data to ensure its reliability for regulatory use.
An insight from a simulation can spark a cascade of design adjustments to meet targets set by initiatives like the Advanced Clean Truck regulation. "So that single data point travels a long way—from a virtual test bench to influencing hardware decisions, certification strategies, and even long-term product roadmaps," Saleem states. This process illustrates how a single data point can ultimately shape the environmental footprint of a vehicle.
Collaboration in the War on Carbon
Achieving sustainability goals within a large corporation is not the responsibility of a single department but an ecosystem-wide effort. Saleem's experience as a Professional Scrum Product Owner highlights the critical need for cross-departmental collaboration to align engineers, product managers, and legal teams toward a common objective.
"Sustainability isn't owned by a single department—it's an ecosystem effort," he says. Engineers focus on efficiency, product managers align with market needs, and legal teams ensure compliance with evolving standards, such as when CARB adds flexibility to fleet requirements. This collaborative approach breaks down silos and integrates sustainability into the core product value.
This integration is essential for navigating the complex and sometimes contentious regulatory environment, where the EPA has even proposed denying California's attempts to regulate out-of-state trucks under its Heavy-Duty Inspection and Maintenance program. "When every team understands how their piece impacts Volvo's carbon footprint, collaboration becomes natural—and that's where innovation truly accelerates," Saleem concludes.
Grounding Innovation in Reality
Saleem's career path from advanced aerial vehicle design to automotive compliance was a deliberate choice to ground innovation in real-world impact. His graduate work at Texas Tech's Flow Control Lab focused on pure efficiency and performance, principles he now applies to the transition toward sustainable transportation.
"Moving into certification and compliance wasn't a step away from innovation—it was about grounding it in reality," he explains. This mindset is crucial when evaluating the feasibility of new technologies, which must meet exemptions based on factors like daily usage and being commercially viable.
He saw an opportunity to merge an engineering mindset with the frameworks that guide vehicles to market, ensuring that cleaner technologies are not just designed but responsibly deployed. "It's a different front in the same fight: advancing cleaner technology and ensuring that what we design actually makes it to the road responsibly," Saleem states, highlighting the importance of balancing innovation with the practical hurdles of adoption, such as the total cost of ownership for new systems.
The Evolving Challenge of Zero Emissions
As the industry accelerates toward Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) powertrains, the focus of compliance is shifting, introducing new and complex challenges. Instead of managing combustion emissions, engineers must now address issues like battery lifecycle, thermal safety, and end-of-life impact.
"Zero-emission powertrains don't make compliance simpler—they just shift the challenge," Saleem notes. His role is evolving from ensuring compliance with existing rules to helping shape responsible standards for a new era of transportation.
This new frontier requires a holistic view of sustainability that extends beyond tailpipe emissions. "Because sustainability isn't just about zero tailpipe emissions; it's about what happens to every component before and after it powers the vehicle," he adds. This forward-looking perspective is essential for developing a truly sustainable and circular economy for the future of trucking.
The journey to decarbonize the trucking industry is neither simple nor linear. It requires professionals like Saleem who can bridge the worlds of advocacy, engineering, and regulation. By grounding ambitious climate goals in the practical realities of vehicle design and compliance, they are paving the way for a transportation future that is both innovative and responsible.
ⓒ 2025 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
