The Clean Freight Coalition, an alliance of transportation stakeholders committed to a clean energy future for the commercial vehicle industry, sent a letter on Wednesday, Dec. 18, to the country’s major heavy-duty truck manufacturers suggesting that they abandon their Clean Truck Partnership (CTP) agreement with the California Air Resources Board (CARB).
“The Clean Truck Partnership (CTP) agreement entered between your companies and CARB has served as tacit approval of the regulatory timelines and requirements mandated by CARB,” wrote CFC Executive Director Jim Mullen.
The coalition said recently enacted emissions regulations from both CARB and the federal Environmental Protection Agency will cause disruption in the trucking industry, potentially leading to a shortage of internal combustion engines and trucks. This comes on the heels of federal and state emissions regulations that have already made it harder to purchase safe equipment, the CFC said.
“As the industry embarks on a new year and new Administration, industry collaboration is needed to reset and revise government standards that have been put in place.To set achievable national emissions standards, truck manufacturers should abandon the CTP and are encouraged to work with industry partners to block harmful regulations that do not set us on a path to success,” wrote Mullen.
A copy of the letter can be found HERE.
Bay area bridge tolls increase Jan. 1
The Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) reminds drivers that tolls at the San Francisco Bay region's seven state-owned toll bridges will go up by $1 next Wednesday, Jan. 1. This will be the third of the three $1 toll increases approved by the California Legislature in 2017 through state Senate Bill 595 and by voters through Regional Measure 3 in June 2018. The first of these toll hikes went into effect on Jan. 1, 2019 and the second on Jan. 1, 2022.
Regular tolls for two-axle cars and trucks (as well as for motorcycles) at the San Francisco-Oakland Bay, Antioch, Benicia-Martinez, Carquinez, Dumbarton, Richmond-San Rafael and San Mateo-Hayward bridges will rise to $8 from the current $7 on Jan. 1, 2025.
Tolls for vehicles with three or more axles also will rise by $1 on Jan. 1, 2025, at all seven of the state-owned toll bridges: to $18 for three axles, $23 for four-axles, $28 for five axles, $33 for six axles, and $38 for combinations with seven or more axles.
Nebraska Trucking Association aids hurricane victims
Noting that hurricane relief efforts are continuing, and will be ongoing for a very long time, members of the Nebraska Trucking Association (NTA) recently undertook a fundraising effort in partnership with the Salvation Army. The effort raised $5,000.
“We looked into trying to collect donatable goods,” said NTA President and CEO Kent Grisham. “But after some research, it was clear that various service organizations in the southeast had well-established methods of collecting and distributing materials in areas hard-hit by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. So, we decided to partner with one of the most trusted and reliable service organizations in the world, the Salvation Army, to conduct a fundraising campaign.”
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