What They Are Saying: EPA’s Heavy-Duty Truck Rule

Elected officials and trade groups representing businesses across the supply chain are sounding the alarm over the Biden administration’s new emissions standards for heavy-duty trucks which could threaten the speed and cost of goods moving throughout the country.

Here’s what they are saying:

American Petroleum Institute and American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers: "This is yet another example of the Biden administration’s whole-of-government effort to eliminate choices for American consumers, businesses, and industries. There is significant uncertainty regarding the technological and infrastructure capability to comply with this rule, which may threaten the speed and cost of goods moving throughout the country." — API President & CEO Mike Sommers and AFPM President & CEO Chet Thompson (API, 3/29/24)

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV): "This new heavy-duty vehicle emissions rule is another step in the agenda of the radical climate advisors at the White House to implement rules without regard for reasonability or feasibility, in this case on trucks and heavy equipment that drive our economy. Transitioning the nation’s trucking fleet on this timeline will require us to increase our dependence on China for critical minerals, batteries, and other materials for EV production, ceding more geopolitical ground to China. Bottom line: the higher costs for hard working truck drivers will mean higher costs for American consumers." (Sen. Joe Manchin, 3/29/24)

Sens. Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Dan Sullivan (D-AK) and Rep. John James (R-MI): "Biden’s EV mandates are delusional. American consumers and workers will pay the price for his administration’s attempt to get rid of internal-combustion engine. His EV mandate for heavy trucks will make everything more expensive as it wreaks havoc on our nation’s supply chain and makes us more reliant on China." (Sen. Pete Ricketts, 3/29/24)

American Trucking Associations: "ATA opposes this rule in its current form because the post-2030 targets remain entirely unachievable given the current state of zero-emission technology, the lack of charging infrastructure and restrictions on the power grid. … Any regulation that fails to account for the operational realities of trucking will set the industry and America’s supply chain up for failure." — ATA President and CEO Chris Spear (American Trucking Associations, 3/29/24)

Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association: "We are concerned that the final rule will end up being the most challenging, costly and potentially disruptive heavy-duty emissions rule in history." — EMA President Jed Mandel (Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association, 3/29/24)

American Bus Association: "The ABA expresses grave concerns regarding the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) recent rule mandating a rapid shift to electric vehicles. This forced march towards electric vehicles will result in a significant increase in equipment costs, potentially doubling them. Moreover, the current lack of infrastructure and limited electric capacity make this transition impractical and financially burdensome for the industry and consumers." — ABA President and CEO Peter J. Pantuso (American Bus Association, 3/29/24)

Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association: "Truckers want clean air, clean water but there are certain ways to go about it. We're passing mandatory laws on technology that's not even invented, and nobody knows what the cost is going to be." — OOIDA Executive Vice President Lewie Pugh (Fox News, 4/3/24)

National Association of Truck Stop Owners and Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America: "The Administration’s Final Rule does not adequately consider the challenges that fuel retailers face in transitioning to heavy-duty truck electrification." (NATSO, 3/29/24)

Clean Freight Coalition: "[O]ur members oppose the Environmental Protection Agency’s final Greenhouse Gas Emissions Regulations for Heavy-Duty Vehicles-Phase 3 rule – a regulation that will require the adoption of zero-emissions commercial vehicles at a pace that isn’t possible due to the limits of today’s technology. … The GHG Phase 3 rule will have detrimental ramifications to the commercial vehicle industry, many small and large businesses, commercial vehicle dealers and their customers." — CFC Executive Director Jim Mullen (Clean Freight Coaltion, 3/29/24)

Engine Technology Forum: "Ideally, the EPA rules would be based on life cycle greenhouse gas emissions rather than a tailpipe-only basis. A life-cycle approach supports consumer choice for both fuels and vehicles. There are many paths to reducing carbon and other emissions; including further advancements to internal combustion engines and the use of renewable fuels, and new fuels like hydrogen. We envision a future where truckers can choose whatever technology best suits their needs; battery electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, or advanced gasoline, natural gas, or diesel vehicles." — ETF Executive Director Allen Schaeffer (Engine Technology Forum, 3/29/24)

API represents all segments of America’s natural gas and oil industry, which supports nearly 11 million U.S. jobs and is backed by a growing grassroots movement of millions of Americans. Our approximately 600 members produce, process and distribute the majority of the nation’s energy, and participate in API Energy Excellence®, which is accelerating environmental and safety progress by fostering new technologies and transparent reporting. API was formed in 1919 as a standards-setting organization and has developed more than 800 standards to enhance operational and environmental safety, efficiency and sustainability.

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