OKLAHOMA CITY (May 6, 2025) — Attorney General Gentner Drummond expressed his gratitude following a significant legal victory that has halted California’s Advanced Clean Fleets regulations. This move comes after a coalition of state attorneys general, led by Drummond, challenged the state’s controversial electric-truck mandates.
The mandates would have required trucking companies nationwide to phase out internal-combustion engines for electric models, raising concerns about increased operational costs and potential supply chain disruptions. California officials have now agreed to repeal these mandates, acknowledging the implications for the commercial trucking sector and consumers alike.
Drummond characterized the settlement as a triumph for the free market, emphasizing that the imposed regulations would have burdened trucking companies with excessive expenses that could ripple through to consumers. The rule originally targeted all fleets operating in California, irrespective of their home state, posing a risk to national logistics due to California’s significant population and pivotal ports.
As part of the settlement agreements, California regulators committed to initiating rulemaking processes to officially remove the mandates. Furthermore, they acknowledged they cannot proceed with enforcing California’s 2036 prohibition on the sale of internal-combustion trucks without securing a waiver from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Drummond and his coalition had effectively resisted California’s previous request for such a waiver.
Additional states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming, participated in the lawsuit. The Nebraska Trucking Association and the Arizona State Legislature also joined the collective opposition against the regulations.
This development is viewed as a critical moment for state collaboration in matters of transportation and environmental regulation, highlighting the ongoing tensions between state and federal policies. The outcome not only affects the trucking industry but also sets a precedent for how similar environmental policies may be approached in the future.
The implications of this legal battle extend beyond state lines, as the fate of trucking fleets, operational costs, and consumer prices may pivot on this legal landscape reshaping. As the settlement unfolds, the impact on the industry and consumers will be closely monitored.
This article was automatically written by Open AI. The people, facts, circumstances, and story may be inaccurate, and any article can be requested for removal, retraction, or correction by writing an email to [email protected].