Reviews by the EPA (Environmental Protection Administration) are resulting in President Trump ending emission rules set by the Biden-Harris administration. Announced by Biden’s EPA on March 29th, 2024, the emission standards would have made a portion of heavy-duty vehicles zero-emission. Two-thirds of all cars and light-duty trucks sold by model year 2032 must have been electric vehicles (EVs). The standards aimed to reduce air pollution and combat climate change. With its implications for the trucking industry, the announcement of the rules had mixed reactions from shippers and truckers. With the Trump administration in office, he promises to follow through with his goal of ending the standards.
Why Is Trump’s EPA Ending Emission Rules from the Biden Administration?
Trump is ending the emission rules because of the negative impact they could have on the industry. Trump believes that the standards are a “mandate” to force the buying of electric vehicles. In particular, the rules will make truck making more expensive for manufacturers, and costs will fall on customers. Trump’s EPA argues that Biden’s emission rules would have imposed over $700 in regulatory and compliance costs. EPA administrator Lee Zeldin notes that the ending of the standards is “the biggest deregulatory action in U.S. history.” The announcement is part of 31 historic day-one orders the Trump administration’s EPA has taken toward deregulation in the U.S.
What Was The Response Behind The Rollback Of The Emission Rules?
The trucking industry responded positively once Trump announced plans to reduce emission rules. Many believed the standards were unachievable based on the timeline Biden’s EPA gave. American Trucking Association’s President Chris Spear said, “GHG3 in its current form is unachievable given the state of battery-electric technology and the sheer lack of charging infrastructure. Especially for states like California, where the Biden administration granted waivers to set more aggressive emission standards. Along with reducing equipment availability, it would have increased costs for businesses and customers. Rising costs could lead to bankruptcies for smaller Mom and Pop trucking businesses.
While there has been a generally positive response to the undoing of the standards, environmental groups have opposed the decision. The director of the Sierra’s Club Clean Transportation, Katherine Garcia, noted, “Any attempt to roll back these common-sense clean vehicle standards is a devastating attack on clean air and climate action.” The director of the Environmental Defense Fund, Amanda Leland, noted that more toxic chemicals would increase cancer and asthma. Despite the EPA’s goal to protect the environment, Trump plans to give carrier companies the choice of purchasing EVs.
A1 Freight Solutions
When transporting your cargo domestically, there are numerous things that shippers should understand that can impact their shipments. Examples can include new regulations or laws. Failures to understand this can result in supply chain delays and extra costs. It can be beneficial to speak to a freight broker when starting. Brokers are the middleman between shippers and carriers that facilitate freight transport on behalf of the shipper. Along with coordinating cargo movement, brokers educate you on what to expect and how to prevent disruptions. Contact A1 Freight Solutions at info@a1wwl.com or 786-375-9420 for a quote to move your goods anywhere in the U.S. We have solutions such as FTL, LTL, expedited, temperature-controlled heavy haul, and more for ensuring your supply chain’s success.