Several states are reconsidering their adherence to California's clean-engine rules for medium and heavy-duty trucks, raising questions about New Jersey's stance. Legislation has been introduced in New Jersey to delay the implementation of these Advanced Clean Trucks regulations from January 1, 2025, to at least January 1, 2027. Bills A-4967 and S3817 propose this delay.
Ray Cantor, NJBIA Deputy Chief Government Affairs Officer, expressed concerns: “There are any number of credible reasons to delay these rules... it will cost hundreds of millions of dollars for the trucking industry, it will decimate the logistics industry... But above all that, the regulations are not feasible because the technology and infrastructure simply aren’t there yet for full implementation.”
Massachusetts recently joined Oregon in postponing similar regulations aligned with those set by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). In New York, stakeholders are reportedly making progress with lawmakers on delaying these rules. Meanwhile, a federal court challenge is underway by attorney generals from 19 states and a coalition of stakeholders.
The ACT regulation requires that starting with model year 2025 in New Jersey, a percentage of new truck sales must be zero-emission vehicles (ZEV), increasing annually through model year 2035. Manufacturers earn ZEV credits when a ZEV is sold in-state; without enough credits from ZEV sales, diesel trucks cannot be sold.
Cantor explained the implications: “It basically means manufacturers are forced to deliver ZEV trucks... until a sufficient number are purchased by consumers... dealers are stuck with ZEV trucks that fewer people want to buy.” He added that if not delayed, buyers might resort to purchasing diesel trucks out-of-state.
CARB may amend when ZEV credits are granted. However, broader issues persist. A bipartisan group of California legislators warned CARB about potential layoffs and closures affecting small businesses due to lack of access to new vehicles.
In New Jersey, supply chain concerns were echoed by the New Jersey Building Material Dealers Association (NJBMDA), which urged a rollback of ACT rules. They highlighted delivery challenges critical for construction projects: “These deliveries are crucial... Building material dealers... have just begun recovering from the pandemic’s disruptions.”
