Trucks Clips: January 13, 2025

 

 

Trump’s DOT deputy pick has roots in ‘war on terror,’ Project 2025. “Bradbury helped write the transporation section of the ‘Mandate for Leadership,’ the compilation of policy proposals that the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 wrote for Trump’s second term. The blueprint calls for cutting federal aid to mass transit, cutting support for electric vehicles and rolling back fuel-efficiency standards for gas-powered cars and trucks. Speaking at a Federalist Society conference in 2023, Bradbury said regulating climate-warming emissions has been one of the causes of government overreach. ‘That hands administrative agencies the most pervasive power you can imagine, from the sky to the ground, everything, every economic activity involves carbon dioxide emissions. So they can just do almost anything,’ he said. In an opinion piece for Heritage, Bradbury wrote that the Biden administration’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards are ‘pure fantasy’ and argued that they are an extension of the EPA’s effort to promote electric vehicles. ‘Under these standards, automakers will have to phase out the most popular models of cars and trucks and transition their fleets to expensive EVs that so far don’t meet the budget and performance needs of most Americans — particularly not lower-income and rural families,’ he wrote.” [E&E News, 1/13/25 (+)]

 

Trump picks conservative lawyer, Steven Bradbury, to be DOT deputy secretary. “President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday announced Steven Bradbury, a well-known conservative lawyer and veteran Department of Transportation official, as his pick to be deputy secretary at the DOT headquarters in Navy Yard. Bradbury, a distinguished fellow at the Heritage Foundation, served in Trump’s first administration as DOT’s general counsel. He also previously served as acting deputy secretary of transportation and as acting secretary of transportation. During the administration of George W. Bush, he was principal deputy and acting assistant attorney general for the Office of Legal Counsel at the Justice Department. In the role, he would serve directly under Trump’s nominee to lead the agency, Sean Duffy. Duffy has his nomination hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee set for Wednesday. He is expected to have a relatively easy path to confirmation after many senators — both Republican and Democrat — have expressed their support for him.” [Politico, 1/10/25 (=)]

 

Deputy Choice Named. “In a Truth Social post Saturday, President-elect Donald Trump announced his nominee for deputy DOT secretary: Steven Bradbury, a well-known conservative lawyer and veteran official at the agency. Bradbury, a distinguished fellow at the Heritage Foundation, was the department’s general counsel in Trump’s first administration. Chris has more about his background here.” [Politico, 1/13/25 (=)]

 

MT’s Hearing Watch List. “Sean Duffy, the DOT secretary pick, is slated to appear before the Senate Commerce Committee for his confirmation hearing Wednesday. It’s set for 10 a.m. in Russell Office Building 253 — and both Republicans and Democrats on the panel have expressed support for his nomination, hinting at an easy path forward for the previous House member and Fox Business personality. — Your MT team has been chatting with lawmakers on the committee — and reviewing their social media posts — to learn more about Duffy’s potential priorities and what questions senators may ask him. Here are three key issues to look out for:” [Politico, 1/13/25 (=)]

 

1. The next surface transportation bill. “Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) said she thinks Duffy is supportive of ‘flexibility’ for states to make their own decisions. Expect questions about formula funding vs. discretionary grant levels for the upcoming reauthorization legislation, as well as what types of infrastructure Duffy wants to prioritize.” [Politico, 1/13/25 (=)]

 

2. Electric vehicle policies. “As a common political punching bag for the GOP, the Biden administration’s focus on such cars will likely be brought up. In an X post, Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) said she has no doubt that Duffy will ‘do right by Wyoming and the rest of the United States by eliminating radical EV mandates.’” [Politico, 1/13/25 (=)]

 

What we're watching as Trump's picks go on the record. “President-elect Trump’s picks to lead energy and environment agencies will appear before Senate committees at high-profile hearings this week. Why it matters: It’s the first look at how they’ll breathe life into Trump’s plan to scrap Biden-era climate policies and promote oil and gas production. What’s next: The Interior nominee, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, testifies tomorrow before the energy committee. DOE choice Chris Wright appears there Wednesday, while EPA pick Lee Zeldin faces the environment committee Thursday. Transportation selection Sean Duffy chats publicly with the commerce committee Wednesday, while Treasury nominee Scott Bessent testifies before the finance committee Thursday. A few things we’ll be looking for... 💵 The IRA’s future. Wright will face questions about the future of grant programs under the 2022 climate law and the loan program it expanded. Meanwhile, Bessent could get queries about whether he’ll make it tougher to tap IRA tax subsidies Treasury controls for EVs, manufacturing and more. Meanwhile, Duffy will have sway over unspent funds for EV charging and more under the 2021 infrastructure law. 🆕 A sense of the ‘National Energy Council.’ That’s the new, Burgum-led multi-agency group Trump vowed to create to steer policy. But what exactly it’ll do is kind of a mystery right now.” [Axios, 1/13/25 (=)]

 

 

Daimler Truck North America

 

Daimler halts diesel truck sales in Oregon over new rules. “Daimler Truck North America is at odds with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s recently adopted medium and heavy-truck standards — even though the rules are the same in 12 other states including Washington and California, and the company is still selling trucks in those states. Daimler’s eCascadia and the eM2 are two of the first electric semi-trucks to hit the highways. FILE: In this provided undated photo, Daimler’s eCascadia and the eM2 are parked in Portland. They are two of the first electric semi-trucks to hit the highways. On Dec. 20, Daimler Truck North America shared in a private letter to dealers and sales managers it is pausing sales of its diesel-powered trucks intended for Oregon registration. That’s after what state regulators are calling a miscommunication about recently adopted California truck manufacturing rules that led to the halt of sales. Oregon, along several other states, have opted to adopt California’s vehicle emissions standards under the federal Clean Air Act. Each of those states must adopt the same rules as California. Daimler officials claim there are differences, while DEQ staff said that’s the result of a misunderstanding.” [Oregon Public Broadcasting, 1/10/25 (=)]

 

Daimler stops selling diesel-powered semi trucks in Oregon due to new environmental rule, per report. “Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) has stopped selling heavy duty diesel trucks in Oregon over concerns that doing so would violate a new law, according to reports. On December 20, 2024, Portland, Oregon-headquartered DTNA issued a memo to dealerships in Oregon announcing that the truck maker would not be selling diesel trucks in the state for the foreseeable future.” [CDL Life, 1/10/25 (=)]

 

Daimler halts ICE truck sales in Oregon, citing dispute on clean truck credits. “Daimler Truck North America last month informed its dealers in Oregon that it would not sell any new internal combustion diesel engine trucks in that state, a decision that is still in place though Oregon officials say the truck maker’s decision is the result of a misunderstanding. At the root of the dispute is the California Advanced Clean Trucks rule, which Oregon and several other states have decided to adopt. California sets most of the provisions, and a list of states that includes New York, New Jersey and Colorado follows most of the rules laid down in Sacramento. The ACT does have a waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency, granted to the California Air Resources Board, to be implemented in California. .” [FreightWaves, 1/9/25 (=)]

 

DTNA Halts New Diesel Truck Sales in Oregon. “One truck manufacturer has stopped taking orders for new diesel-powered trucks and buses in Oregon and two more are limiting sales there as a result of the state’s implementation of emissions reduction laws mirrored after California’s Advanced Clean Trucks rule. Daimler Truck North America in late December stopped taking orders for diesel-powered trucks and buses in Oregon — home of its headquarters — Transport Topics has confirmed. The company produces Freightliner and Western Star trucks and Thomas Built Buses. Rival truck manufacturers Volvo Trucks North America and Mack Trucks, meanwhile, are limiting sales of diesel trucks there in order to comply with the regulations, they told TT. While the two subsidiaries of Sweden’s Volvo Group have not completely halted sales, they noted in separate emails to TT that they had ‘no choice’ but to restrict sales.” [Transport Topics, 1/10/25 (=)]

 

Trucking trouble: Oregon’s new electric rule sparks chaos on the roads; Daimler halts new orders. “Daimler Trucks North America has stopped all new orders for new internal combustion vehicles in Oregon in a Dec. 20, 2024 statement. ‘Effective immediately, DTNA is pausing all orders for new internal combustion vehicles intended for registration in Oregon,’ said Mary C. Aufdemberg Daimler’s general manager of product strategy and market development, in a message to Oregon truck dealers. According to the Willamette Week, Daimler, through its Freightliner and Western Star brands, is the leading producer of large trucks in the U.S., accounting for 40% of all new Class 8 trucks (tractor-trailers) sold in 2023, according to the American Truck Dealers association. The Oregon Journalism Project began to research the issue and the decision stems from a new rule imposed by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality that went into effect on Jan. 1.” [The Trucker, 1/10/25 (=)]

 

Shell

 

The future of trucking rolls forward in Shell's experimental big rig. “The Shell Starship Initiative has been on an interesting journey since its inception in 2018, with a mission to redefine energy efficiency in the commercial trucking sector. Starting with diesel engines, the first two versions of the Starship made impressive strides in fuel efficiency, but now with the introduction of the Starship 3.0, we’re witnessing a remarkable shift towards sustainability. This latest iteration features the innovative Cummins X15N natural gas engine, which not only enhances performance but also significantly reduces emissions. The Shell Starship Initiative began with a clear goal: to set new benchmarks for energy efficiency in commercial trucking. The first two versions of the Starship were powered by diesel engines, achieving notable fuel efficiencies compared to industry standards. However, the introduction of the Cummins X15N natural gas engine in the Starship 3.0 represents a pivotal shift away from diesel, addressing both environmental concerns and operational efficiency. The X15N engine, launched in 2024, is designed specifically for heavy-duty applications and overcomes previous limitations associated with natural gas as a fuel source. It provides similar power outputs to diesel engines but does so with enhanced fuel efficiency and significantly lower emissions. This is particularly important as the trucking industry faces increasing pressure to meet stricter environmental regulations.” [Fox News, 1/10/25 (=)]

 

 

Advocates Warn of Climate, Cancer Risks From a Potential Trump Rollback on Electric Big Rigs and Buses. “When a massive explosion proved the death knell of a 150-year-old South Philadelphia oil refinery in 2019, nearby resident Mark Clincy chalked it up as a health victory for surrounding neighborhoods that long bore the brunt of its air pollution. Then the trucks arrived. Construction equipment and other heavy-duty vehicles go back and forth through Clincy’s predominantly Black neighborhood as the site is redeveloped into a warehouse hub. Among the tailpipe emissions from the vehicles is the carcinogen benzene, a problem that Clincy and some other residents fear could get exponentially worse once fleets of tractor-trailers and delivery vehicles arrive in earnest. ‘[Truck emissions] are a big problem. … It’s frustrating,’ Clincy said. ‘The trucks that they drive in: yuck. Something about the pollution from that diesel fuel. You have senior citizens living nearby, and they don’t need all that.’” [Inside Climate News, 1/13/25 (+)]

 

Clean Transport Backers Tout Jobs Benefits Of EV Policy At Risk By GOP. “Clean transportation advocates in new analyses are highlighting the emerging economic benefits of domestic electric vehicle (EV)-related investments, in a bid to defend federal policies supporting the sector against attacks by the incoming Trump administration or the new Republican Congress. The findings by Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) come amid expectations that Trump’s team will begin reversing EPA regulations that broadly encourage EV deployment for both passenger vehicles and heavy trucks. Meanwhile, Hill Republicans are already weighing steps to modify or repeal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credits or other measures that support EVs and related manufacturing. But EDF’s Jan. 8 report specifically calls attention to nearly two dozen House districts represented by GOP lawmakers that could be harmed by a rollback of EV-related incentives. ‘By the close of 2024, manufacturers had announced $197.6 billion in concrete investments in U.S. EV and EV battery manufacturing over the last decade,’ with about two-thirds announced since the 2022 passage of the IRA, the report notes.” [Inside EPA, 1/10/25 (=)]

 

 

Sneak Attack: Electric Trailers Turn ICE Trucks Into Hybrids. “Recently, I saw a video about pulling a travel trailer that brings its own power to the game. And, after seeing too many memes about making undesired modifications to rifles, I immediately thought to myself, ‘You know what? Screw you! *Turns your truck into a hybrid*’ Why would I feel like this is a sneak attack of sorts? Because using an ICE vehicle to pull an electric assist travel trailer seems a little off at first. Being an EV enthusiast, I thought first of how much an EV trailer can prevent range loss, extra charging time, or (the worst outcome) not making it out to a desired destination. I didn’t think much about how an EV travel trailer could benefit ICE tow vehicles because ICE vehicles don’t really have a towing range problem. Yes, they usually do lose half of their range or more when towing, but there are stations offering gas and diesel fuel all over the place. Running short on range just means a few extra 5–10 minute stops, making for very little impact on range. But when an ICE tow vehicle tows an EV travel trailer, the fuel economy benefits of basically turning a camping rig into a hybrid come into play:” [CleanTechnica, 1/11/25 (+)]

 

 

California

 

Battles over California’s Advanced Clean Trucks rule rage far beyond state line. “With slightly tightened restrictions under the California Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule having gone into effect at the start of 2025 and the prospect of numerous states following the Golden State’s lead, the regulatory world has been awash in dueling communications on the subject. On a microeconomic level, the ACT has led to the halting of some truck sales in Oregon. But a bigger battle is taking shape across multiple states. Unlike its sister regulation, the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) rule, ACT has the waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency that it needs to be implemented in California. The rule provides a combination of carrots and sticks to move OEMs toward producing more zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) to be sold into California. The ACF – which awaits a decision on its own waiver request from EPA, expected in the remaining days before the end of the Biden administration – is a similar set of runways and regulations to move the state’s truck fleet toward ZEVs. But the ACF is targeted at vehicle buyers, not manufacturers.” [FreightWaves, 1/13/25 (=)]

 

Los Angeles Acquires Nearly Five Acres for New Clean Energy Electric Bus Charging Facility. “Cushman & Wakefield announced the firm has arranged the sale of approximately 4.95 acres of vacant land in Harbor City. Located at 23903 Normandie Ave. in L.A.’s South Bay submarket, the site is currently undeveloped and was acquired by the City of Los Angeles for $12 million. The city plans to install a new clean energy electric bus charging facility on the site for the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT). The seller was Brea Canon Oil Company. LADOT leads transportation planning, project delivery and operations in the City of Los Angeles. LADOT is made up of over 1,300 civil servants, including 600 traffic officers. LADOT manages 52 different transportation services for the region - from parking management to safety improvements to permits for private mobility operators. Cushman & Wakefield’s Jeffrey Morgan, executive director represented the seller in the transaction. ‘The sale of this property marks a win-win scenario for all parties as well as for the greater Los Angeles community and its transportation services network and ridership. The new facility will also assist in the state’s effort for a cleaner and more sustainable environment,’ said Morgan.” [Los Angeles Times, 1/10/25 (+)]

 

Illinois

 

DeKalb School Board will consider contracts for furniture, electric buses. “The DeKalb County School Board will consider approving $7 million worth of furniture purchases across the district. The board is renewing a contract with Ernie Morris Enterprises, Lakeshore Learning Materials LLC., and School Specialty LLC for $5 million. The board is also increasing a previous furniture contract by $2 million. A spokesperson for the district says the district needs to replace items that are dated and broken and purchase chairs, desks and tables. This will provide furniture for 138 buildings, including schools and other district buildings. ‘The increased spend limit request [for the previous contract] is to address the $1.8 million in back ordered student furniture (104 schools) that must be fulfilled to support DCSD students,’ the board meeting agenda says. ‘Additionally, there is approximately $820,000 worth of backordered office furniture pending (21 schools), which is necessary to support principals, administrative staff, and various DCSD office spaces.’” [Decaturish, 1/10/25 (+)]

 

Suburban school districts slowly rolling out electric school buses. “Suburban school districts have a long road ahead of them before school bus fleets are completely electric. Thanks to state and federal grants and an incentive from a utility, however, districts slowly are adopting electric school buses. But most fleets still rely heavily on traditional fossil fuels. Susan Mudd, senior policy advocate for the Environmental Law & Policy Center, said Illinois districts and transportation companies have used grants and incentives to purchase about 700 electric school buses. Among those with electric vehicles: River Trails District 26 in Mount Prospect, which uses one electric vehicle; Naperville Unit District 203, which owns four electric buses; and Huntley Community Unit District 158, which has four electric buses and is looking to add six more in the next year or so, Chief Financial Officer Mark Altmayer said.” [Daily Herald, 1/12/25 (+)]

 

New York

 

Where do snow plows fall in New York's Advanced Clean Truck regulations? “Making New York more affordable continues to be the focus for lawmakers as they return to the Capitol, and some say State mandates are one of the biggest factors in costs. That includes the State’s climate goals, and on January 1st, the Advanced Clean Truck rule started its implementation, something the trucking industry say is going to make an impact on how they do business, potentially driving costs up for consumers. ‘What the rule does is, it puts a sales mandate in place on the vehicle manufacturers that lays out that they have to sell so many electric trucks in order to continue to sell diesel trucks,’ Kendra Hems, President of the Truckers Association of New York, says. ‘So beginning in 2025 the ratio is one electric truck to seven diesel trucks. So what happens is, even though the rule itself was written with the manufacturer in mind, because the manufacturers don’t sell the trucks or truck dealerships do, the manufacturers have limited the availability of diesel trucks to our dealerships here in New York State because they’re concerned about the penalties that will crew if they sell those trucks.’” [WRGB-TV, 1/10/25 (=)]

 

Electric School Bus Shake-Up! New York’s Unexpected Shift. “The Future of School Transportation: Challenges and Innovations In a bold move to redefine school transportation, New York has enacted groundbreaking legislation that tackles the realities of electric school bus longevity. By slashing the amortization period from twelve to eight years, Governor Kathy Hochul’s law aims to align financial expectations with the true durability of these green alternatives. This strategic revision stems from discoveries that rust-proofing electric buses can void warranties, limiting their effective lifespan to roughly a decade. Navigating the Unknown: Challenges in Electrification Adopting electric school buses is not without challenges. School districts are confronting logistical hurdles, as managing routes with these buses proves more complex than anticipated. Insightful evaluations, particularly from Clymer Central School, highlight the need for innovative solutions like collaborative routing with neighboring districts. Such cooperative efforts could alleviate operational burdens and promote efficient use of resources.” [La Noticia Digital, 1/11/25 (+)]

 

Congestion pricing: MTA ‘unlocks’ an upgrade, adding 265 new electric buses to fleet. “Following last week’s launch of congestion pricing, the MTA said on Friday that it would purchase another 265 electric buses to upgrade its fleet. MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said at a press conference in Jamaica, Queens, on Jan. 10 that this is the first project to become ‘unlocked’ by congestion pricing after the controversial program was unpaused on Nov. 18. It also builds on the 60 zero-emission buses that came to the city last year and is in addition to the 205 the MTA said is slated for late 2025. ‘The latest batch of electric buses builds on the zero-emissions progress we made at various depots last year, and together with what was done at a recent announcement, it’s 265 zero-emissions buses slated to come to various depots beginning later this year,’ Lieber said. With so much electric rolling stock on the way, the MTA will build more charging infrastructure at various depots to keep the buses powered up. The new Jamaica depot, which will open in 2027, will be outfitted with charging stations for the new fleet. Some environmental experts have said the MTA’s electric bus acquisition will help improve air quality in New York. Electric buses replace fossil fuels, releasing less carbon into the air.” [amNewYork, 1/12/25 (=)]

 

Oregon

 

Officials deny Oregon fire trucks ‘delayed’ by California safety checks. “Officials are denying that Oregon fire trucks were ‘delayed’ by California safety checks while trying to fight the Los Angeles wildfires. Complaints emerged over social media that fire trucks sent by Oregon to help fight the wildfires in Southern California were being held up to pass emissions tests. Some claimed that the fire trucks were rejected altogether for not being up to environmental standards. Officials in California and Oregon were quick to shoot down the rumors, saying instead that the vehicles only underwent brief safety checks. ‘We sent 75 fire engines. Your statement about our teams not being allowed into California is false. Our teams arrived yesterday and are working around the clock to help our neighbors,’ the X account for the Oregon State Fire Marshal said, in response to a comment that has since been deleted. ‘This is false. Oregon has courageously sent CA some of their best firefighters and equipment — all have been here for days fighting these blazes,’ Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) said, apparently in response to the same deleted comment. ‘To say otherwise is not only incorrect, it’s offensive to the brave men and women who are fighting on the frontlines right now.’” [Los Angeles Times, 1/12/25 (+)]

 

 

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