California Backs Down from Clean Fleets Rule

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) recently withdrew its request for a federal waiver from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation. This decision comes as CARB faced significant opposition from the trucking industry and uncertainty about approval from the new White House administration.

Introduced to push fleets toward adopting zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), the ACF regulation would have required fleets to transition on a phased-in schedule. Large trucking companies were to convert medium- and heavy-duty fleets to battery-electric or hydrogen fuel cell models by 2042, with the sale of new fossil-fuel trucks ending by 2036. The rules also mandated compliance from smaller operators, such as one-truck drayage operators serving California ports and railyards.

However, the regulation faced intense legal challenges. The Western States Trucking Association (WSTA) and other groups argued that the mandates were impractical given the current state of ZEV technology and infrastructure. These organizations also raised concerns about CARB’s authority to enforce stricter-than-federal emissions rules without EPA’s waiver approval. With the waiver pending for over a year and CARB’s enforcement delays on drayage and high-priority fleets, the trucking industry’s pushback played a critical role in CARB’s decision to withdraw the request.

Despite this withdrawal, CARB is still committed to reducing emissions. The Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulation, which governs manufacturers by limiting the number of fossil-fuel-powered trucks they can sell in California, already has an EPA waiver. Dealers in California and other states that adopted the ACT rules face the challenge of balancing customer needs while meeting ZEV sales mandates. Daimler Truck North America, for instance, temporarily stopped selling diesel trucks in Oregon due to these constraints, though it later reversed the decision.

The trucking industry’s response to the withdrawal has been largely positive. The American Truck Dealers (ATD) association expressed relief, emphasizing that the ACF’s aggressive timeline and technology requirements were unworkable. ATD noted that California’s regulatory environment had already led to a sharp decline in Class 8 truck registrations, further straining the industry. Similarly, the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) hailed the decision as a victory for the industry but acknowledged the need for ongoing engagement to establish achievable standards.

The WSTA echoed this sentiment, highlighting the critical role of heavy-duty vehicles, particularly ultra-clean diesel-powered trucks, in supporting communities during crises and recovery efforts. They argued that pushing for an industry-wide transformation during such challenging times was unrealistic.

While CARB’s withdrawal signals a pause on the ACF regulation, it does not mean an end to California’s push for cleaner transportation. The Clean Truck Partnership between CARB and manufacturers, along with other existing programs, will continue driving progress toward ZEV adoption. For the trucking industry, this development is a chance to work toward feasible solutions that align with both environmental priorities and operational realities.