Resolutions passed by U.S. Congress have nullified California’s electric vehicle mandates, which the American Trucking Associations (ATA) calls a “monumental victory” for the trucking industry and consumers.
“California is the breeding ground of all bad public policy, and it’s long past time that our nation’s leadership in Washington stop abdicating its responsibility to unelected, cubicle-dwelling bureaucrats in Sacramento who have no understanding of the real world and how it works. Today’s Senate votes send a resounding message nationwide that this is not the United States of California, nor will it ever be,” said ATA president and CEO Chris Spear.
“We appreciate the leadership of President Trump, EPA Administration Zeldin, and leaders in Congress who listened to our concerns and acted decisively to reverse these destructive rulemakings, which would have decimated our industry and unleashed a torrent of economic pain on the American families and businesses that we serve.”
The U.S. House of Representatives had already passed the resolutions, which yesterday secured the support of the Senate. They revoke an EPA waiver that allowed California and other states to implement their Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulation. Eleven states had adopted ACT, which required medium- and heavy-duty truck makers to sell increasingly
“Trucking is an industry of innovators. We don’t need government mandates to tell us how to reduce our environmental impact—we’ve been doing it for forty years with a record to show, all while moving an ever-increasing percentage of the goods that Americans expect and depend on every day,” said Spear.
Dave Heller, senior vice-president of safety and government affairs with the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) was equally delighted with the news.
“This marks a significant victory for the industry as we continue to advocate for affordability, reliability, and achievable solutions for our nation’s fleets,” he said in a note to members.
“The repeal of these poorly planned measures is a testament to the voice that our membership has provided and the resolve of our industry to tell our story. As a major issue during TCA’s 2024 Call-on-Washington, we emphasized the very notion that these rules would have been crippling to our nation’s supply chain and an obstacle to an industry that thrives on delivering a nation. Never underestimate the importance of the Truckload presence on Capitol Hill and our ability to have an impact. This is a great win!”
And small-business truckers also celebrated the news.
“Setting national policy is the responsibility of Congress, not California. It’s no wonder small-business truckers have left the state in droves to find better opportunities elsewhere,” said Todd Spencer, president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA).
“For OOIDA members, vehicle reliability and affordability are critical. So far, there is no convincing evidence that electric commercial motor vehicles are a viable option for small-business truckers given the high costs and inadequate charging infrastructure. Additionally, CARB’s overreaching Omnibus NOx rules have already raised prices on new vehicles and increased maintenance costs for trucks currently on the road. OOIDA and our 150,000 members applaud the efforts by leaders in Congress to protect small-business truckers nationwide from California’s regulatory encroachments.”
