Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, May 7, 2025:
California agrees to officially repeal Advanced Clean Fleets rule
While the California Air Resources Board (CARB) effectively waved the white flag on its Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) rule in January when it withdrew its request for a waiver with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), court filings reveal that CARB intents to repeal the regulation.
The court documents were filed in a lawsuit from a coalition of 17 states, led by Nebraska, and the Nebraska Trucking Association, who sued to block the ACF rule.
California in November 2023 submitted its ACF request to the EPA, which would have required certain trucking fleets in the state to transition to zero-emission vehicles beginning last year, and that the entire fleet be fully zero-emissions between 2035 and 2042, depending on a variety of factors. ACF also required all new heavy trucks sold in California be zero-emissions by 2036.
[Related: States challenge latest EPA, CARB truck emissions rules]
According to the court filing, CARB Executive Officer Steven Cliff agreed that CARB staff would present a proposal to repeal the High-Priority Fleet (fleets with $50 million or more in gross annual revenues or operate 50 or more trucks) and the Drayage Fleet requirements of the rule. The proposal will be presented to the Board at a meeting held no later than Oct. 31, 2025. If the repeal is approved, CARB staff will submit that rulemaking action to California’s Office of Administrative Law (OAL) for approval no later than August 31, 2026.
Cliff and California Attorney General Rob Bonta also agreed that “they will not take any enforcement action under the High Priority Fleet or Drayage Requirements for conduct during the period beginning with the earliest effective date of any of these requirements (November 1, 2023) and ending when CARB or OAL (whichever acts latest) takes final action on the CARB rulemaking described herein.”
Additionally, Cliff and Bonta will not enforce the ACF’s regulation requiring 100% zero-emission-vehicle sales in the medium- and heavy-duty categories beginning with model year 2036 until CARB obtains a Clean Air Act preemption waiver from EPA for that regulatory requirement.
[Related: What does the demise of ACF mean for EVs, ICE sales, and ratio-ing?]
Two Plains states waive HOS over fuel shortages
The governors of Kansas and Nebraska have declared emergencies over fuel shortages in their states, prompting hours of service relief for truck drivers hauling certain fuels.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly on April 30 issued a declaration to allow a waiver for hours of service for motor carriers in Kansas.
According to the Kansas Adjutant General's Department, parts of Kansas and surrounding states “are experiencing a fuel shortage causing long lines at fuel terminals thereby causing a disruption in supply delivery and a need for drivers to increase the number of hours of service to deliver product.” Wichita County Emergency Management clarified that there’s not an outright shortage of fuel, but rather a bottleneck in the supply chain “due to multiple causes” resulting in long lines at fuel terminals. The declaration, effective for 14 days through May 13, is intended to give truck drivers more time to deliver the fuel.
The Kansas Adjutant General’s Department noted that diesel has been the most impacted, but gasoline could be affected, as well.
Nebraska Gov. Jared Pillen’s declaration temporarily allows drivers to work extended hours to haul gasoline or gasoline blends, diesel, fuel oil, ethanol, propane and biodiesel into or within Nebraska.
Pillen issued the order on May 2, and it’s effective through May 15. He noted that the declaration was issued in response to “fuel shortages due to high demand for petroleum products,” adding that motor carriers and truck drivers hauling such products “are engaged in the business of transporting fuel from further distances and waiting longer at terminals in order to meet needs.”
Both states’ declarations waive the hours of service regs in 49 CFR 395.3 -- maximum driving time for property-carrying vehicles.
J.B. Hunt recognizes 54 multi-million-mile safe drivers
J.B. Hunt's multi-million-mile safe drivers were honored at company headquarters recently.J.B. Hunt
J.B. Hunt Transport Services (CCJ Top 250, No. 3) recently recognized 54 company drivers for achieving two, three and four million miles driven without a preventable accident during its annual Million Mile Celebration at company headquarters in Lowell, Arkansas.
Each year, J.B. Hunt hosts the new class of Million Mile drivers and their families at corporate headquarters for a multi-day celebration featuring an awards ceremony with live entertainment, engaging discussions with company leadership, and the Million Mile Walk of Fame, a 24-year annual tradition.
“When we talk about the best of the best, we’re talking about the people here this week,” said Nick Hobbs, chief operating officer for J.B. Hunt, during the company’s Million Mile Walk of Fame. “Last year we surpassed our own company safety record set in 2023 for reducing DOT preventable accidents. These drivers are essential for that progress by the example they set and the knowledge and training they share. This is their Million Mile moment, and I’m proud, humbled and honored that they choose to drive with J.B. Hunt.”
This year’s Million Mile drivers and their families, led by an emphatic entrance from the Bentonville West High School marching band, made their way along a 300-foot red carpet that spanned two buildings.
They were first greeted by the company’s executive leadership team, who thanked each for their long-term commitment to safety excellence and expressed how grateful they are to have them as part of the J.B. Hunt family. The remainder of the Walk of Fame featured cheers and high-fives from thousands of company employees, customers, investors and guests who lined the red carpet to celebrate.
With this year’s class, J.B. Hunt surpassed 5,000 company drivers to achieve at least one million safe miles. This year’s group also included five drivers who achieved four million safe miles. All Million Mile drivers’ names are etched into the Million Mile Wall at corporate headquarters.
