The California Air Resources Board has backed down on a regulatory proposal that would have required trucking companies to gradually add zero-emission vehicles to their fleets, a dramatic shift that was welcomed by trucking leaders.

Known as the Advanced Clean Fleets Rule, the law would have mandated for certain truck and bus fleets in the state a phased-in deployment of ZEVs in their operations. Separately, California also has proposed an Advanced Clean Trucks rule that requires manufacturers only sell zero-emission trucks in the state beginning in the 2036 model year. Both proposals require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to grant CARB a waiver of federal rules to proceed. The state has withdrawn its waiver request for the ACF law, but the ACT proposal remains. Manufacturers have negotiated independently with the state on that proposal, and currently have an agreement in place.

“The Advanced Clean Trucks regulation will still be in effect, [and] it will likely put the onus on truck manufacturers to continue to make zero-emission trucks,” said Mike Tunnell, California-based senior director of environmental affairs/research for American Trucking Associations. READ MORE