From left: ATA’s Mike Tunnell, California Trucking Association’s Nick Chiappe, Daimler Truck’s Alissa Recker, Penske Truck Leasing’s Matt DeVirgilis and Sonar Systems’ Greg Colvin. (John Sommers II for Transport Topics)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The uncertain nature and complexity continues to create confusion regarding the environmental regulatory climate for truckers in California.
While a new administration is in the White House, even the experts aren’t certain of the future. But truckers could in due time get some relief from mandates requiring them to convert their fleets to zero-emission vehicles, according to an executive panel speaking at a March 11 session at American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council’s 2025 Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition.
Seeing the writing on the wall, the California Air Resources Board already has withdrawn its waiver request for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of its Advanced Clean Fleets rule that would have required trucking companies to gradually add zero-emission vehicles to their fleets, a dramatic shift that was not welcomed by trucking leaders.
The fate of CARB’s Advanced Clean Trucks regulation, which requires manufacturers to sell an increasing percentage of electric trucks annually, is uncertain. The Trump EPA has recommended that Congress reject the rule, but CARB is nonetheless likely to pursue alternative means of accelerating the deployment of zero-emission vehicles, according to panel members.
“The current state of the ACT regulation is that it’s still active,” said Nick Chiappe, director of government and regulatory affairs for the California Trucking Association. “For Class 7 and 8 trucks, there’s only around 300 zero-emission vehicles in the state of California right now. We’re interested to see where this rule goes, especially because the demand pressure is put on the manufacturers to sell these vehicles that aren’t being required by fleets.”
At the same time, a CARB nitrous oxides rule remains in effect, and CARB is enforcing a Clean Truck Check regulation, a law passed by the California Legislature. The Clean Truck Check tests heavy-duty vehicles’ emission control systems for proper operation. Yet CARB is “still working out the bugs, and there are a lot of bugs,” said panelist Mike Tunnell, ATA’s senior director of energy and environmental affairs.
Right now, the Clean Truck Check rule is being enforced for both in-state operators and trucks entering the state.
Panel members said the Environmental Protection Agency’s Phase 3 vehicle efficiency standards requiring zero-emission standards for engines and trucks is expected to see “significant changes under the new administration.”
On cue, on March 12, the EPA said it was launching a sweeping overhaul of U.S. environmental mandates. Included in the review will be the Model Year 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles regulations, known as Phase 3. ATA applauded the announcement of the review.
Back on the March 11 panel, Chiappe said, “California is very unique when it comes to engine standards. Through the Clean Air Act, California gets these very specific privileges. Through these privileges, they are able to create their own emissions standards.”
Other states can adopt the California regulations as well, Chiappe added.
“If you’re relying on large fleets to buy up all the electric vehicles, it’s just not going to happen,” said Matt DeVirgilis, director of diagnostic systems and information for Penske Truck Leasing. “Ultimately, this is something where we all have to work together. We’re going to have to buy more zero-emission vehicles.”
DeVirgilis added, “We’ll see where all this goes. We know that at least for the next four years … with the current administration that CARB would not be able to receive any waiver approval to adopt zero-emission vehicles. We’re very excited. I don’t know if I should be too excited about it because we don’t know what’s around the corner, but this [ACF] regulation is not enforceable.”
Alissa Recker, a regulatory affairs engineer with Daimler Truck North America, said, “We have a lot of regulatory uncertainty with the new administration.”
Penske ranks No. 13 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest for-hire carriers in North America and No. 16 on the TT Top 100 logistics companies list.
