Trucking Industry Objects to California’s Zero-Emission Truck Rule by 2042

On April 28th, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved a new rule mandating that all new medium and heavy-duty vehicles sold or registered in the state must be zero-emission by 2036. By 2042, all trucks must be zero-emission as well.

The American Trucking Associations President and CEO, Chris Spear, criticized the decision, stating that CARB is forcing motor carriers to purchase zero-emission vehicles, despite the fact that these trucks are early-stage technologies and that there is no infrastructure to support them. Additionally, the Truckload Carriers Association President, Jim Ward, added that the regulation is premature and irresponsible since it forces trucking companies to adopt vehicles that are still in development and have limitations.

CARB Approves New Rule for Zero-Emission Vehicles: What Fleet Owners Need to Know

According to CARB, the new rule has the following provisions:

Fleet owners operating vehicles for private services such as last-mile delivery and federal fleets such as the Postal Service, along with state and local government fleets, will begin their transition toward zero-emission vehicles starting in 2024.
Existing vehicles can still be used until the end of their useful life.
Drayage trucks must be zero-emissions by 2035 due to their impact on nearby residents.
All other fleet owners can transition a percentage of their vehicles to meet zero-emission milestones, allowing them to continue operating combustion-powered vehicles as needed.
Last-mile delivery and yard trucks must transition by 2035, work trucks and day cab tractors must be zero-emission by 2039, and sleeper cab tractors and specialty vehicles must be zero-emission by 2042.

Trucking Industry Challenges CARB’s Mandate for Zero-Emission Trucks

Spear argues that CARB’s actions are unrealistic, as zero-emission trucks are significantly more expensive, charging and refueling infrastructure is nonexistent, and zero-emission vehicles are not necessarily a one-for-one replacement. Ward believes that the regulation is premature and irresponsible, as it forces trucking companies to adopt early-stage technologies with limitations.

The ATA and Truckload Carriers Association believe that advancing clean technologies is essential, but realistic timelines and achievable targets are necessary to prevent disruptions to the supply chain and higher prices for goods and services delivered to the state. The trucking industry hopes that CARB will reconsider its decision and allow companies to choose the clean technologies that work best for their operations.