A coalition of trucking associations is urging governors in nine states to hit the brakes on Advanced Clean Trucks and work with the industry to find better ways to reduce truck emission.
On Dec. 17, eight state trucking associations issued a letter to nine governors in states adopting Advanced Clean Trucks rules, expressing concerns with the new requirements. The associations represent motor carriers in Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington state, with the letter sent to current governors in those states, as well as Washington Governor-elect Bob Ferguson.
Advanced Clean Trucks requires manufacturers to sell increasing percentages of zero-direct-emission trucks through model year 2035, with some states starting the new rules with model year 2025. In those states, 7% of new truck sales must be zero-emission trucks beginning Jan. 1, 2025.
Including California, 11 states have adopted Advanced Clean Trucks. Five states will start the rule next year: Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Washington. Vermont will begin the regulation in 2026, with the remaining states implementing it in 2027.
In the letter, the trucking associations are not asking the states to get rid of Advanced Clean Trucks. Rather, they are asking that the states delay the implementation of the new rules as current truck technology renders requirements for manufacturers infeasible.
Consequently, the regulation will likely result in the loss of jobs and businesses while keeping older, dirtier trucks on the road longer.
One issue cited is the lack of a charging infrastructure. New York adopted Advanced Clean Trucks in 2021. Since then, the state has not built a single charging station for medium- or heavy-duty trucks.
“And while truck operators in Washington, California and Oregon appreciate the continued attempt to secure federal funding for an EV truck charging corridor along Interstate 5, the reality is that it will take years to complete,” the letter states. “We need this infrastructure now.”
Truck dealers in New York were already suffering from the effects of Advanced Clean Trucks before it even started. Vestal, N.Y.-based Burr Truck told Land Line that it has already lost 200 orders for diesel trucks. That’s because Volvo is requiring the dealer to sell one battery-electric truck before it can order or sell 13 diesel trucks.
However, there is zero demand for zero-emission trucks.
“Right now, dealers across the country are struggling to find a way to navigate this situation,” the trucking associations state. “Many will not survive the economic impact of these rules. Many will shut down after being in business for generations. Many will cut jobs. Many will lose everything.”
The associations point out that the trucking industry has worked with governments over the years to reduce truck emission. In 2004, the Environmental Protection Agency worked with stakeholders to develop SmartWay, a voluntary public-private program allowing carriers to measure, benchmark and improve operations to reduce their environmental footprint. Since then, the program has helped partners save nearly 400 million barrels of oil and avoid emitting 170 million metric tons of CO2. Today, 60 new trucks have the same output as one truck in 1988.
Those emission successes were accomplished without government mandates and through collaboration with stakeholders, allowing the market to set the pace. Essentially, the trucking associations are asking for Advanced Clean Trucks to proceed in a similar manner.
“We are asking that the ACT date for implementation be deferred in order to ensure that our dealers and trucking companies are not unduly harmed, and to provide for an opportunity to work together to find a solution that works toward our state’s environmental goals,” the letter states. LL
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