Truck Drivers Secure ‘Major Victory’ in New York

The Truckers Association of New York has declared a "major victory" soon after President Trump signed an executive order "killing" heavy-duty electric truck mandates.

Back on March 29, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rolled out its new electric truck mandate, which at the time required that electric semi-truck models account for 60 percent of new urban delivery trucks and 25 percent of long-haul tractor sales by 2032.

Electric Truck Mandate in New York

The Advanced Clean Truck Act, a multi-state initiative that would require truck manufacturers to sell a certain percentage of heavy-duty EV trucks starting this year, has been put on hold for now after President Trump issued an Executive Order stating that the act is an overreach by the States, according to WRGB. Since the act was rolled out, numerous truck companies, dealers, and drivers have highlighted numerous issues with EV trucks, including availability and problems with the supply chain.

Soon after the EO was signed, several states, including New York, began legal proceedings to overrule the order.

Truckers in New York Declare "Major Victory"

The Truckers Association of New York has declared that the EO is a win for the organization, with its President, Kendra Hems, saying,

"Right now we're all kind of taking a breath. Our dealers are able to sell trucks again, which is great. We have heard from them that they are getting trucks on their lots that they can now make available to sell. So, for a while, we're going to kind of enjoy this victory and hopefully be able to catch up in some of the losses that we had earlier on in the year."

 

The Truckers Association of New York believes that the E.P.A. should be in charge of the act and its guidelines, not individual states.

Stripping Away New York's Rights?

New York's Department of Environmental Conservation believes that the EO is an attempt by the Trump administration to strip away New York’s legal rights. DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton issued a statement saying,

"The poor precedent set last month by some members of Congress compounds the Trump administration’s efforts to strip away New York’s legal right to implement environmental laws and initiatives that protect air quality and help safeguard communities from pollution. New York strongly believes in the importance of states’ authority under the Clean Air Act and, more specifically, clean vehicle programs that continue to be supported by consumers."

 

The DEC also said it is issuing additional enforcement discretion to help promote ongoing clean vehicle sales to ensure that New York has a workable program. New York will "continue to show the leadership necessary to promote market stability, economic certainty, and prevent pollution – leadership that is lacking at the federal level."