The Biden administration has finalized plans for a program aimed at reducing air pollution from heavy-duty engines and vehicles across the United States.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has introduced new emission standards that are more stringent and cover a wider range of heavy-duty engine operating conditions compared to previous standards. The goal is to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides and other pollutants. While the administration touts the benefits of these standards, truckers argue that they will have a detrimental impact on the economy and the country's food supply.
According to Mike Kucharski, Vice-President and Co-Owner of JKC Trucking Inc., more than 95% of trucking companies in the industry are small businesses operating about ten or fewer trucks. He believes that complying with the EPA's clean energy mandates will force many small trucking companies out of business, leading to a tightening of trucking capacity nationwide and causing severe price inflation.
Kucharski argues that the cost of transitioning to clean energy technologies is prohibitive for the majority of motor carriers. He states that a new clean diesel long haul tractor typically costs around $180,000 to $200,000, while a comparable battery electric tractor costs upwards of $480,000. This significant cost difference makes it difficult for small trucking companies to invest in electric vehicles.
Todd Spencer, President at the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), shares similar concerns about the EPA's regulations. He argues that the regulations are part of a "regulatory blitz on small-business truckers" and that they are pushing for the adoption of electric vehicles without addressing concerns about costs, mileage range, battery weight and safety, and charging infrastructure for heavy-duty commercial trucks. Spencer believes that the pursuit of this environmental agenda, along with an anticipated speed limiter mandate, will result in the regulation of experienced truckers off the road.
Republican U.S. Senator Deb Fischer of Nebraska proposed a resolution to block the EPA mandate, which passed the Senate and the House. However, President Biden vetoed the resolution, allowing the mandate to move forward. A bipartisan group in Congress also expressed concerns about the regulations in a letter to the EPA.
The trucking industry argues that the new regulations are not practical for several reasons. Kucharski points out that the driving range of electric trucks is significantly lower than that of gas and diesel-powered vehicles. He states that the charge of an electric truck lasts for about 10 hours and covers a distance of 150 to 300 miles, while a diesel truck can travel 1,600 to 1,800 miles with a full tank of fuel. This limited range would make it challenging for electric trucks to transport goods over long distances, such as from Chicago to Los Angeles. Kucharski also highlights the weight of lithium batteries used in electric trucks, which reduces the payload capacity of the vehicles.
In addition to the concerns raised by the trucking industry, 20 states have sued the EPA for granting California a waiver to issue its own set of truck emissions standards that go beyond federal regulations. Under California's rule, a significant percentage of delivery vans, buses, and tractor-trailers must be fully electric by 2035, with a complete ban on the sale of gas and diesel trucks by 2045. Attorneys general from across the country argue that California's rule will impact the entire trucking industry and the country as a whole.
Truckers argue that the government needs to consider the impact of these regulations on the supply chain and the American people. Kucharski warns that if the technology fails, the entire supply chain will be at risk, which would have catastrophic consequences, especially for the food supply chain. He emphasizes the importance of learning from the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic and urges lawmakers to work together with truckers to find solutions that keep the wheels rolling and ensure the continuous supply of goods to the American people.
The implementation of these new emission standards and the push for electric vehicles in the trucking industry have sparked a heated debate between the Biden administration and truckers. While the administration argues that these regulations will lead to cleaner air and a more sustainable future, truckers believe that the costs and practicality of transitioning to clean energy technologies will have a detrimental impact on their businesses and the country's supply chain.
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