Perspective: ATD Drives Concerns Directly to D.C.
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Earlier this month, nearly 100 representatives of medium- and heavy-duty truck dealers from across the country gathered in Washington for the annual . Attendees met with lawmakers and advocated for common-sense federal policies that support the trucking industry. ATD’s message to lawmakers was clear: Any legislation coming out of Washington must be practical and feasible.
While trucking faces several challenges, there was one significant reason to celebrate. Last month, both chambers of Congress passed legislation that overturns California’s unworkable Advanced Clean Trucks rule, which seeks to eventually ban the sale of new diesel trucks in certain states, and the costly Omnibus low nitrogen oxides rule. This vote represented a tremendous victory for America’s truck dealers and their customers. Our cause for celebration was further enhanced when President Donald Trump recently signed these important resolutions into law.
For years, America’s truck dealers have sounded the alarm about the California EV truck sales mandate. California truck dealers have already experienced, on average, a 50% reduction in 2024 diesel truck sales versus 2023 due to truck rationing and the lack of a zero-emission vehicle truck market. Truck dealers in California and other states were already unable to meet their customers’ truck purchase needs. With Trump signing the resolutions, truck dealers in states that adhere to standards like the ones promulgated by the California Air Resources Board will be able to work closely with their customers to provide them with the best trucks to support their operations, while more work in California is required.
ALSO FROM PEARSON: EPA’s GHG Phase 3 Rule Needs Fixing
Other challenges persist. The Environmental Protection Agency under the Biden administration issued its “GHG Phase 3” rule last year, which mandates that truck manufacturers increase the percentage of ZEVs they sell each year. With America lacking a national commercial vehicle charging and alternative fuel network, the adoption of heavy-duty ZEV rules is impractical. Rep. Troy Balderson (R-Ohio) and Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) have introduced H.R. 2814 and S. 711 to repeal the EPA’s Phase 3 rule to stop the partial banning of diesel trucks and restore national greenhouse gas and emissions standards that align with achievable technological development schedules. ATD members are rallying support behind these common-sense bills and are urging their congressional representatives to co-sponsor these bills.
ATRI: Repeal of Truck Excise Tax Would Cut Costs
Another continued top priority is the repeal of the federal excise tax. The century-old 12% FET is the highest excise tax, on a percentage basis, that Congress levies on a product, which increases costs by more than $20,000 for new heavy-duty diesel trucks and over $50,000 for electric and hydrogen fuel cell trucks. Repeal of the FET would immediately accelerate fleet turnover, resulting in significant safety and environmental benefits.
America’s truck dealers have a voice — and it’s a strong one. However, our work is not yet done. The trucking industry is what moves America’s economy — but first we need sensible regulation and reasonable taxation.
Scott Pearson is president/dealer principal at Peterbilt of Atlanta.
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