California has pulled its request for a federal waiver on clean truck rules, anticipating a denial from the incoming Trump administration.

California: So, California just decided to backtrack on its request for a federal waiver that would have pushed for cleaner trucks. They figured it was better to pull the plug before the new Trump administration could shoot it down.
This move was part of a bunch of requests aimed at cutting pollution that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) dropped. They were worried about what the new administration might do, especially since Trump has been pretty vocal against California’s environmental efforts.
CARB’s chair, Liane Randolph, mentioned that this was a smart move given the uncertainty ahead. California has been a leader in pushing for cleaner vehicles, especially since it has some of the worst air quality in the country.
The plan was to get truck operators to switch to zero-emission vehicles, which would have included everything from delivery trucks to big rigs. Other states like New York and New Jersey were also on board with these stricter standards.
Interestingly, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, which represents a lot of businesses in the automotive industry, was happy about this decision. They felt California’s plan could have hurt interstate commerce with its tough electric vehicle mandates.
There was also a legal challenge from the California Trucking Association against these regulations, which were supposed to kick in last year. They were particularly concerned about the impact of diesel pollution on communities near busy cargo routes.
Now, CARB is looking at other ways to improve air quality and tackle pollution. They’ve also pulled back on some other rules that would have cut emissions significantly.
Meanwhile, the EPA recently approved California’s ambitious plan to stop selling gasoline-only vehicles by 2035, setting the stage for a showdown over vehicle regulations as Trump prepares to take office.