Navigating the Shift: California's Drayage Fleets Confront Battery-Electric Truck Challenges

The highway to battery-electric truck adoption in California isn’t reversing course due to this regulatory shift. However, industry leaders believe it’s time for some roadwork to smooth out the bumps and congestion.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced on May 5 that it would discontinue its Advanced Clean Fleets Rule after withdrawing its waiver request from the Environmental Protection Agency back in january.

Court filings revealed that CARB’s Executive Officer Steven Cliff and Attorney General Rob Bonta acknowledged their defeat against Nebraska in a U.S. District Court case, with plans for a formal conclusion by October 31.

The U.S.has deployed around 42,500 zero-emission trucks across various states, indicating strong demand for clean delivery solutions.
https://t.co/AQ9W3e2kc9 — Steven Cliff, Ph.D. (@CARB_EO) February 12, 2025

This change doesn’t mean fleets can ignore CARB’s existing Advanced Clean Trucks regulation mandating that manufacturers increase their sales of zero-emission trucks from now until 2035—40% of Class 8 tractor sales must be zero-emission by then!

This requirement particularly impacts drayage fleets who will need to invest heavily in battery-electric tractors. Lauren Miller from ITS Logistics emphasized during a recent expo that these trucks are currently the only viable option for achieving zero emissions at scale within this sector.

Miller shared insights as part of a panel discussion where fleet managers voiced frustrations over the slow transition towards electric vehicles and outlined their needs moving forward.

Nevoya CEO Sami Khan pointed out how carriers with electric trucks face unique challenges compared to traditional fleets. “you really have to maximize usage,” he noted while advocating for round-the-clock port operations.

Khan also cautioned against live loading practices which can complicate logistics substantially when using battery-electric vehicles—essentially waiting at shippers while containers are unloaded before returning them directly back home.

The Challenge of Engagement

Abarca from King Fio Trucking highlighted another hurdle—the lack of interest surrounding zero-emission technology among shippers and regulators alike. “There’s plenty of talk but not enough action,” she lamented about her Long Beach-based fleet’s experience with transitioning toward cleaner options.

Pushing Forward Despite Setbacks