Call for Delay in California’s Advanced Clean Truck Regulations
The Trucking Association of New York (TANY), together with Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo and various state transportation stakeholders, urged lawmakers to reconsider the implementation of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) regulations, which are scheduled to take effect in just over two months.
TANY President Kendra Hems has requested an “immediate delay” regarding these regulations.
New York is following Oregon’s lead in seeking adjustments to regulations that are due to launch in January, which mandate a certain percentage of newly sold trucks in these states to be zero-emission vehicles.
Next month, Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality will present temporary regulations at its Environmental Quality Commission meeting, aiming to amend CARB’s ACT regulations. These amendments may extend the compliance period from one model year to three, and base compliance on reported sales of delivered vehicles.
Heiland shared that despite raising awareness about CARB and ACT for over two years, many are still shocked by their impending implementation with less than 80 days remaining. In New York, around 4,000 Class 8 trucks are registered yearly, and under the ACT regulations, 280 of those (7% of sales) would need to be zero-emission vehicles by 2025 to maintain overall annual diesel unit sales.
“So far, fewer than 40 have been registered,” Hems noted, pointing out that no public heavy-duty truck chargers have been installed in New York since the ACT was enacted in 2021. “We have made no progress since four years ago.”
Currently, 11 states, including California, New York, and Oregon, are committed to adopting CARB’s ACT rule, but the 2025 implementation date varies. While California has commenced this year, Colorado, Maryland, New Mexico, and Rhode Island have set 2027, and Vermont is targeting 2026.
Tom Heiland, president of Utica Mack, emphasizes that business depends on demand. “We’re being directed on what we must sell and in what proportions,” he said. The New York stakeholders are urging state leaders to rethink the timeline for electrification, arguing that the “current rushed timeline” could jeopardize truck dealers and motor carriers in the state.
Chuck Burr, president of Burr Truck, expressed concern for his company’s survival under these new regulations, while General Manager Mark Stone stated they have diesel orders ready for 2025 that they cannot fulfill without changes to legislation.
ACT stipulates that for every eight diesel trucks sold in New York, heavy truck dealers must also sell one battery electric vehicle (BEV). However, this process can take up to 18 months, considering supply chain issues, infrastructure needs, and applying for incentives and grants.
Rick Wadhams, president of Wadhams Enterprises, mentioned that while his company typically replaces around 50 trucks annually, they currently have no orders placed for the coming year. Given current order cycles and industry backlogs, he may already be out of the 2025 replacement cycle. Wadhams identified that electric vehicles are not suitable for at least two of his company’s divisions due to weight limitations and noted that the typical range for electric heavy trucks is under 200 miles, calling its acquisition cost “outrageous.”
Hems is formally proposing a two-year delay until at least 2027, or until New York formulates a proper infrastructure plan. However, Wadhams believes that merely delaying the ACT is insufficient and prefers the rule be entirely revoked. Barry Carr, Executive Director of Clean Communities of Central New York, acknowledged that while the Clean Truck rule is well-intentioned, even California struggles with these demands, indicating that battery electric vehicles will take years to become commercially viable for all.
