Washington Trucking Associations to Host Virtual ZEV Truck Town Hall Meeting Oct. 29

OLYMPIA — Oct. 22, 2024 — In response to heightened industry concerns about Washington state’s new zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandates and adoption of California’s Advanced Clean Trucking (ACT) program, the Washington State Trucking Associations (WTA) will host a virtual ZEV town hall meeting Tuesday, Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. The meeting is free and open to all.

WTA President & CEO Sheri Call said the online forum is designed to give the industry an opportunity to ask questions and share their concerns about new regulations impacting the purchase and operation of ZEVs in Washington state.

“The trucking industry remains supportive of efforts to transition to zero-emission vehicles and has made significant strides toward that goal. However, the new timelines under ACT are far too aggressive and could cause serious harm to the industry and to our supply chain,” said Call. “We are inviting all members of the industry – drivers, fleet owners, and dealers alike — to join us for a conversation about these requirements and how they are impacting them directly.”

This August, in a detailed letter to Gov. Jay Inslee, Call outlined an array of economic, operational, infrastructure, and competitiveness concerns over the policy, which stands to have a profound impact on the industry, the state’s supply chain, and, eventually, consumers in Washington state.

Beginning next year, 7% of all heavy-duty trucks sold in Washington must be zero-emission vehicles. However, the letter notes, that given the buying cycle for trucks can be as long as two years, owners are placing orders for model year 2025 and beyond today. This means Washington trucking companies are already experiencing the consequences of ACT mandates right now, prompting WTA members to evaluate their options given cost and infrastructure constraints.

The letter also outlined concerns about costs, payload, range, refueling, and infrastructure. A zero-emission truck costs about two and a half times more and sacrifices about two and a half tons of payload compared to today’s clean diesel trucks.

“WTA is committed to working with stakeholders to find a balanced approach that leads to decarbonization but also protects the backbone of our supply chain and trade-dependent economy.”

Click here to register for the Oct. 29 ZEV town hall meeting.

About the Washington Trucking Associations
Since 1922, the Washington Trucking Associations (WTA) has served as the unified voice for the trucking industry in Washington. Member supported, WTA is dedicated to advocating sound public policies, providing excellence in education, training, and information, as well as promoting a safe, dependable, and efficient trucking industry in Washington For more information, visit www.watrucking.org.

Contact

Sheri Call | 253.569.8310 or sheri@watrucking.org