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California Trucking Association Sues to Block New Regulations
The California Trucking Association (CTA) has initiated a federal lawsuit aimed at halting the enforcement of the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Advanced Clean Fleets regulation, which mandates that motor carriers in the state switch to zero-emission vehicles starting next year.
Legal Action Against CARB
This lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California on October 16, requests both a preliminary and a permanent injunction to prevent CARB from implementing or enforcing the regulation in any capacity.
Concerns Over Legal Violations
In a message to its members, CTA CEO Eric Sauer highlighted that the lawsuit addresses alleged violations of federal laws, including conflicts with the Federal Clean Air Act and the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act of 1994. “Legal action wasn’t the route we desired regarding the industry’s shift to zero emissions, but the conflict became unavoidable when it became clear CARB was operating under unrealistic expectations of current technology and infrastructure,” the CTA stated.
Components of the Regulation
The Advanced Clean Fleets rule consists of four main regulatory components: regulations to gradually include zero-emission vehicles for state and local government fleets; for high-priority fleets; for drayage fleets; and a complete zero-emission vehicle sales mandate starting in 2036.
Broader Regulatory Impact
The lawsuit argues that CARB’s regulation aims not only to transform vehicles sold within California but also those that enter the state, disregarding what the Supreme Court has recognized as Congress’s well-defined regulatory process.
Concerns from Truckers
Approved by the CARB board on April 28, the regulation faced pushback from some truckers regarding the timely availability of battery or fuel-cell electric trucks and the sufficiency of the electric charging infrastructure.
The Role of the Logistics Industry
The lawsuit notes, “Since 2020, it has become clear how vital the logistics sector is to our economy, and any uncertainty puts added pressure on this industry.” It criticizes CARB for issuing the Advanced Clean Fleets regulation, which exceeds California’s jurisdiction and creates untenable mandates, adding that CARB has informally indicated certain provisions may not be enforced.
