On January 13, 2025, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) sent a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) withdrawing the state’s request for a Clean Air Act waiver for its Advanced Clean Fleet (ACF) Regulation. The original waiver request, which California sought to enable it to require medium- and heavy-duty fleets operating in the state to convert to zero-emission trucks, had been submitted to EPA in November 2023. EPA, which in recent weeks had approved six of California’s waiver requests, accepted CARB’s withdrawal without fanfare.
Liane Randolph, chair of CARB, explained the decision, attributing it to the upcoming administration change. “Frankly, given that the Trump administration has not been publicly supportive of some of the strategies that we have deployed in these regulations, we thought it would be prudent to pull back and consider our options,” Randolph stated in a recent NY Times article.
Applauding the decision, American Trucking Associations’ President and CEO Chris Spear noted, “This unachievable mandate would have raised costs and caused disruption throughout our supply chain without delivering the promised environmental benefits.” Spear continued, “The American Trucking Associations will continue to advocate for rational, nationwide emissions standards that are both ambitious and achievable.”
The EPA replied the same day, acknowledging the withdrawal of the waiver request and updating its website to reflect that CARB has no outstanding waiver requests. The EPA’s move effectively delays the ACF regulation for at least four years, contingent on CARB maintaining the position that it requires a waiver for a regulation that isn’t an emissions standard, potentially postponing California’s aggressive goals for decarbonizing the transportation sector.
It’s important to note that the waiver withdrawal does not currently impact state and local government fleets. These fleets are still subject to the ACF regulation and are required to comply with its requirements, which were effective as of January 1, 2024. CARB is not required to request a waiver for these fleets under section 209 of the federal Clean Air Act and can continue to fully enforce all their requirements.
Commercial transportation stakeholders in California and across the U.S. are closely watching how this decision could shape future regulatory strategies, fleet electrification efforts, and funding opportunities. With the ongoing tension between state and federal policies, the fallout from this withdrawal may have far-reaching implications, potentially influencing the direction of zero-emission vehicle requirements across the nation.
Looking for more information? As the regulatory landscape continues to shift, fleets need clarity and actionable insights to navigate the changes ahead. ACT Expo, taking place April 28 to May 1, 2025, provides the ideal opportunity for fleets to gain expert guidance on how to manage the evolving policy environment. With a deep-dive regulatory workshop on the agenda (which will be announced this month), fleets will leave with the tools and strategies needed to optimize their operations, drive sustainability, and stay competitive. Sign up for updates at www.actexpo.com to ensure you’re prepared for the road ahead.
