Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026:
California bill targeting electric truck prices heads to governor amid diesel spike
A California bill aiming to bring down the high price of electric commercial trucks passed the state Senate in a concurrence vote Sunday and now heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk.
Senate Bill 1213, authored by Sen. Eloise Gómez Reyes, D-Colton, has been approved unanimously by every committee and on both the Senate and Assembly floors since April.
To accelerate the transition to zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, the bill requires manufacturers to submit vehicle pricing data, including suggested retail prices, to the state. Companies must comply to maintain eligibility for state subsidies through programs like the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project.
The mandate responds to research from the International Council on Clean Transportation showing a growing disparity in the global market. While electric truck prices in Europe decreased by 27% in recent years, U.S. prices increased by 32%. SB 1213 seeks to address that gap by fostering a transparent, competitive marketplace that drives down upfront costs and maximizes public investments.
The legislation has garnered support from business groups and goods-movement stakeholders, including Port of Long Beach CEO Noel Hacegaba.
Beyond price reporting, SB 1213 directs the California Air Resources Board to reevaluate voucher caps annually to accelerate zero-emission truck deployment, prioritizing fleets that serve disadvantaged communities. It also requires state agencies to explore innovative financing mechanisms by 2028—such as low-cost loans and residual value guarantees—to provide fleets with greater financial certainty.
Covenant gets renewal of pre-CDL team-driving waiver
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has renewed an exemption for Landair Transport (doing business as Covenant Logistics) that allows commercial learner’s permit holders who have passed the CDL skills test to operate without a CDL holder in the front seat. FMCSA first granted the exemption in 2024.
As with other similar exemptions granted to C.R. England, CRST, and other fleets, the waiver allows CLP holders who have passed the CDL skills test but not yet returned to their home state to obtain their CDL to essentially drive in team operations with another driver in the truck, but not necessarily in the passenger seat as required by federal regulations.
In renewing the waiver, FMCSA said it received 10 comments on the renewal request, eight of which were in opposition to granting the renewal. Most comments in opposition alluded to the CLP holders lacking experience and being safer when being observed by a CDL holder who is on-duty and in the front seat.
FMCSA argued, however, that “CLP holders who have passed the CDL skills test are eligible to obtain a CDL without further training.” Since these drivers have passed the skills test, the only step remaining to drive a commercial vehicle without supervision is to return to their state of domicile and retrieve their physical CDL.
“If these CLP holders had obtained their training and CLPs in their state of domicile, they could immediately obtain their CDL at the in-State SDLA and immediately begin driving a CMV without any on-board supervision,” FMCSA added.
Covenant’s renewed exemption is effective for five years through July 30, 2031.
[Related: Covenant requests extension of exemption pre-CDL drivers]
Fire risk prompts recall of Kenworth, Peterbilt trucks
Paccar is recalling certain Peterbilt and Kenworth trucks due to an issue with the seat assemblies that could cause a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents, the recall includes approximately 811 model year 2027 Kenworth T680, T880 and W990 trucks, and 2027 Peterbilt 567, 579 and 589 trucks.
In the affected units, the seat ventilation harness may be missing heat-shrink, which can result in a short circuit.
Dealers will replace the harnesses, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Oct. 20. Owners can contact Peterbilt's customer service at 1-940-591-4220 or Kenworth's customer service at 1-425-828-5888. PACCAR's number for this recall is 25PACE. NHTSA’s recall number is 26V-544.
