Coalition to Delay the Advanced Clean Truck Rule

Pushing this rule means ignoring reality

I am personally very pro-electric vehicles and drive one myself. This rule, however, will inhibit the transition to electric vehicles and make it harder to transition when the infrastructure is ready. It also leaves out possible hybrid trucks vital to the transition to cleaner fuels. Pushing this rule means ignoring reality in favor of well-intentioned but poorly informed choices.

The infrastructure is not ready

Please reconsider. This is going to hurt so many businesses in the State. I also agree we need cleaner air, but this is the wrong way to go about it. The infrastructure is not ready, and none of the manufacturers even make a battery-electric dump truck. Please put this off for two years. Cleaner engines are coming. Thank you for your time.

The infrastructure and technology is not in place to keep our trucks running

I am the executive director of an organization representing manufacturers in Massachusetts. This rule hamstrings our economy as it prevents the long-distance transport of products and materials. The infrastructure and technology is simply not in place to keep our trucks running, especially those that cross state lines. Even if the trucks were readily available (they are not), the recharging time wreaks havoc with schedules. If Massachusetts is to remain economically viable, it must be able to receive and ship materials and products. Please delay this rule until the interstate technology and vehicle availability catches up.

I can not take delivery of these trucks

I own a rubbish business picking up residential and commercial waste. I currently run 13 trucks and have ordered two new ones to keep updating the fleet. I can not take delivery of these trucks because of this new law, even though everyone still needs their trash picked up. This law makes absolutely no sense as they do not make electric trucks for my application. I am currently forced to keep fixing old trucks that smoke and pollute far more than the new clean-burn trucks. Thanks again for making it so difficult for small local businesses to survive and support local people that live in our community

As an industry, we are nowhere near being able to support it

There is no way this can actually happen. As an industry, we are nowhere near being able to support it, and the electric grid is not ready to handle it.

The infrastructure to support these vehicles does not exist

Truck dealers and end users of heavy and medium-duty trucks are being severely impacted by these rules. While we support the effort to put cleaner vehicles on the road, this is not the best way to do it.

The infrastructure to support these vehicles does not exist. This will also impact public safety and health as it will severely limit contractors that plow, pick up trash and provide essential services such as towing, road repair, water line repair and utility services from replacing old trucks with new ones.

Maybe someday, the technology may be there

As of now, these electric trucks will not meet our mileage requirements for our workday. We haul fuel products across four state lines. Maybe someday, the technology may be there, but as of now, there is no way.

The manufacturers don’t even have trucks available for sale

Who thinks this stuff up? The implementation and enforcement of this crazy law will put thousands of people out of work and crash our local economy. FOR WHAT? We don’t need to follow California over the cliff!

The costs of ALL goods are going to rise dramatically. I don’t think any of the people who signed this ruling have considered it thoroughly.

The manufacturers don’t even have trucks available for sale and don’t plan to for years and years! The infrastructure is not even available or viable!

Nobody in the trucking business needs or wants to buy electric trucks! I have been selling commercial trucks for over 40 years and have never seen anything as screwed up as this bill.

Ford and GM are bleeding BILLIONS of dollars trying to rush electric trucks to the market.

I urge you to reconsider the current mandate

We are a Peterbilt Commercial Truck dealer, have invested over 30 million dollars, and employ approximately 150 people in Massachusetts. We are aligned with the Commonwealth’s goal for a cleaner environment but would like a voice at the table to discuss feasible plans.

Massachusetts does not scratch the surface of the infrastructure needed to support electric commercial trucks, nor are the trucks even available in the configurations that 98% of Massachusetts’s companies rely on to conduct business.

I urge you to reconsider the current mandate to help companies compete in the commercial transportation space and afford to upgrade to new, cleaner diesel engines.

Just look at the pile of junk electric buses behind the WRTA in Worcester

Besides Massachusetts, the grid, charging stations, reliable equipment you can get a day’s work out of, and affordable equipment are not ready, and our lawmakers think this is going to fly?

This is pie-in-the-sky technology being forced upon us. It needs to go away NOW and be revisited in 25 years. Just look at the pile of junk electric buses behind the WRTA in Worcester. Nothing is on the road because it’s not feasible.

Most don’t realize we are just not ready for this

Most don’t realize we are just not ready for this. Infrastructure, process, existing vehicle parts, authorized dealers to service these trucks and so much more.

Please understand that I’m not against newer, cleaner technology; however, we have to be able to support what is being suggested. Most will spend thousands keeping older trucks on the road if not completely restoring them, simply because our current infrastructure supports this process.

This regulation will put me out of business

I work in the Commercial Truck Leasing industry and cover a territory exclusively in Massachusetts. This regulation will put me out of business.

The financial impact on businesses would be immense

Requiring electric trucks in my industry would cause significant financial burdens and ultimately cost many jobs within my company. We haul heavy loads and need a truck to run all day for up to 10-12 hours.

To run at 75 percent capacity for heavy loads would cause customers to pay 25 percent more to cover the inefficiency of trucking. As these trucks are much heavier, our roads and bridges will suffer and fail faster.

The financial impact on businesses would be immense. Many colleagues over 55 would close their businesses down rather than invest in something so idiotic. I really hope this does not pass. A delay is a start, I suppose.

We do not yet know how this will impact small family businesses

We do not yet know how this will impact small family businesses. Please delay so that there may be more time for research.

I don’t know how we would be able to afford the cost of implementing these regulations

With the uncertainty of the Global Household Goods Contract and the soft housing market, I don’t know how we would be able to afford the cost of implementing these regulations.

This rule makes no sense

This rule makes no sense. We are 20 years away at best before this is even feasible.

The impact on pollution will be negligible, while the economic impact will be huge

I own a heating oil company in Shrewsbury and Flynn’s Truck Plaza, one of the few Truck Stops in Massachusetts. The vast majority of trucks we service daily are from out of state. The ACT will simply decimate Massachusetts-based truck dealers and trucking companies. If Massachusetts companies are forced to go electric before the rest of the country, freight will shift to out-of-state companies. We are a small state. The impact on pollution will be negligible, while the economic impact will be huge.

I am especially concerned about ZEV trucks hauling heating oil. California does not have heating oil delivery trucks like Massachusetts, but it does have tractor-trailers that haul petroleum. A tractor-trailer can separate from the tanker if there is a battery fire, whereas a heating oil delivery truck cannot. ZEV truck fires can reach 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit, double the melting point of steel. A 5,000-degree fire attached to 3,000 gallons of heating oil will be an epic disaster.

Massachusetts will be at a competitive disadvantage

This draconian rule is based on flawed data. Massachusetts will be at a competitive disadvantage, as a cottage industry on our borders will circumvent this.

This will put an unplanned burden on the commonwealth’s bottom line

Not delaying this bill will swiftly and irreparably harm the tens of thousands in the commonwealth who operate these vehicles to make a living.

This will lead to a wave of residents going on to state support benefits because their line of employment is no longer available. This will put an unplanned burden on the commonwealth’s bottom line and all its tax-paying citizens.

Additionally, some of the data used to support this initiative is notably flawed and skewed. This bill will set Massachusetts up for a similar fiscal mess as California.

Please delay implementing this new rule

Please delay implementing this new rule until there is adequate charging infrastructure in place. Otherwise, the state of Massachusetts will suffer.

This rule will cripple the construction and transportation industry

This rule will cripple the construction and transportation industry as there are no compatible electric vehicles to replace our Class 7 and Class 8 trucks. I upgraded four new HD trucks in the last quarter of 2024 with the best available technology regarding reduced emissions.

We need to hold off until the units are available and the infrastructure to support the new electric vehicles is in place.

The technology and infrastructure are not ready

The ACT needs to be delayed. The technology and infrastructure are not ready for this to be implemented. The state government realizes this and is already exempt from this law.

The private sector should also be exempt, or the implementation of laws should be delayed until the time is right.

These policies risk driving small operators out of business

Our company has been in business since 1980, specializing in hauling utility poles—a critical service supporting our region’s energy infrastructure. This work requires highly specialized trucks equipped with cranes designed to safely and efficiently handle heavy and uniquely shaped cargo.

Currently, no electric vehicle meets the operational demands of our industry. Beyond that, the added weight of electric MHD vehicles, due to their large battery systems, would exceed safe weight limits and pose serious challenges for use on New England’s roads, which are often narrow and not built to accommodate such heavy vehicles.

While we fully support efforts to reduce emissions and protect the environment, this rule disproportionately impacts small business owner-operators and small carriers like ours, who already face a growing burden of regulation in the trucking industry.

Mandating neither practical nor available technology creates an unfair disadvantage, particularly for companies that rely on specialized equipment to serve essential industries. While well-intentioned, these policies risk driving small operators out of business, leading to significant disruptions in critical supply chains and economic harm to local communities.

We are not ready

We are not ready as a state or nation for this aggressive plan. Why create a standard that, if enforced, will prove detrimental to the entire population? If you move forward, it will appear to be for ulterior motives.

Electric trucks will not work in our application

I own a small regional trucking company based in Massachusetts that employs 40. The ACT rule hinders trucking companies in Massachusetts from affordably updating equipment that will work in our applications, while companies based in other states aren’t required to meet this rule.

This gives out-of-state companies an unfair advantage over Massachusetts-based companies. It seems backward to hurt the companies based in and paying taxes in this state.

Electric trucks will not work in our application; they aren’t rated to haul the weight we are permitted to haul or travel the distances our trucks travel daily.

There isn’t the infrastructure to recharge them in New England, and we can’t put a charging station in at our shop either as the power isn’t available in this area to support it. If this ruling goes through, it will cause huge failures and rate increases in the transportation network.

I fear companies will leave this state, which will cause a loss of jobs and taxes paid to the state.

Infrastructure and equipment OEMs are not able to support this transition

We in the transportation industry are asking our elected officials in Massachusetts to re-examine the impacts of implementing these electrification mandates at a time when infrastructure (the grid) and equipment OEMs are not able to support this transition from internal combustion engines to electric.

The primary effect of the current government’s inaction to postpone these mandates will be that 990 pre-emission medium and heavy-duty trucks—that would have been replaced in 2025—will continue to pollute our cities and towns. How is that helping to solve the climate challenges that we all readily acknowledge exist?

ACT rule timeline does not allow stakeholders sufficient time to prepare

I have concerns regarding the implementation of the ACT rule in Massachusetts. While I understand the importance of environmental benefits, I believe that the current ACT rule timeline does not allow stakeholders sufficient time to prepare and adapt to the new requirements.

It lacks awareness of unintended consequences

I understand this policy appears well intended and clearly fits political agendas, but as is often the case, it lacks awareness of unintended consequences.

The idealistic agenda is disconnected from current capabilities and realities. It ignores a reasonable transition process and time for advancement in the area of technology needed for true change. I urge you to review and make adjustments where appropriate.

We are not ready yet

Please consider delaying the implementation. We are not ready yet. Thank you.

The ability to move heavy loads at an economical price benefits manufacturers and consumers alike

There is nothing to advance in the new ACT rule. New diesel trucks today run cleaner and more efficiently than anything we have ever had. Moving towards fully electric sounds great sitting behind a desk, not knowing what it’s like in the real world of trucking.

The ability to move heavy loads at an economical price benefits manufacturers and consumers alike. Lower trucking costs mean lower prices on everything we consume on a daily basis. Furthermore, the technology doesn’t exist.

Massachusetts has a net loss of residents in the last five years with affordability as the number one reason for leaving.

Our state leaders never seem to care about the direction they take to further continue this trend.

This bill will cripple the trucking industry

I can not believe that this bill passed. I understand we all want a cleaner environment. However, this bill will cripple the trucking industry. The sales, drivers and owners of all types of companies will be significantly impacted. Please delay the implementation of this bill.

The state and truck manufacturers are not ready yet

I sell heavy trucks for a living, and this rule will put the company I work for out of business.

The state will lose millions in tax dollars. Nobody wants these trucks, which aren’t capable of doing the job of a diesel truck, cost twice as much to purchase, and cannot be recharged.

The state and truck manufacturers are not ready yet. Please delay this law. No one is ready for it, and you will force companies to buy out of state.

There is no infrastructure to support ACT

I’m all for clean energy and believe the work that Senator Markey and others have done is important. However, if there is no infrastructure to support ACT, it is premature to begin implementation.

Please take a careful look at this legislation. Thank you.

Thanks for keeping this in mind as you reconsider the ACT rule

Thank you for your time and consideration of the economic impacts of keeping older, dirtier trucks on the road and for the loss of the ability to replace them with newer, cleaner diesel models.

As we all drive by, ride, run or walk on many former rail lines throughout Massachusetts today, we can see how vital a strong, reliable trucking force is to our survival as a great place to live, work and play.

Thanks for keeping this in mind as you reconsider the ACT rule until the technology can support the needs of our neighbors!

Be logical and stop this ill-thought-out legislation

This will cripple the trucking industry, which will hurt every citizen in the state and states around it.

When repair costs and parts rise because of the already broken supply chain, which will worsen, those costs will be passed onto consumers, driving up costs for everything and everyone.

Further, the state will lose tax revenue due to the sudden halt in truck sales. I don’t know a single owner-operator or fleet that will willingly purchase electric trucks.

Be logical and stop this ill-thought-out legislation before you destroy hundreds of thousands of lives and drive up inflationary costs.

Modern diesels emit almost no pollutants today

We all care about the environment, but modern diesels emit almost no pollutants today. Enforcing these rules is too premature when the technology and infrastructure are not in place.

Also, this would put dealerships and small companies out of business.

Cities and towns would be forced to raise taxes on financially struggling residents.

Please consider the potentially devastating consequences

Please consider the potentially devastating consequences of enacting a wide-ranging law without the proper infrastructure to allow Massachusetts businesses to comply with such laws.

This legislation makes no sense

I’ve been a Democrat my whole life. This legislation makes no sense and is detrimental to our already fragile economy.

Will place an undue burden on our company

The ACT rule in its current form and timeline is wholly unachievable and will place an undue burden on our company and the industry as a whole. The industry needs at least 5 more years to re-assess infrastructure requirements and all associated costs and unintended consequences to our companies.

Emergency exempt list

Tow trucks that do police recovery work need to be on the emergency exempt list from this. In just a month, our company has been called multiple times to large accidents where we had to secure a vehicle before other emergency crews could begin to remove victims from the crashes.

Please think of your constituents

Please think of your constituents working in the trucking industry. Their livelihood is at stake.

Not feasible for the towing industry

Personally, I do not see this as a feasible concept for the towing industry. An electric vehicle weighs a lot more than a regular vehicle, so that is not possible when looking at heavy-duty trucks.

My other main concern is the overuse of resources if an electric truck of this size catches on fire. A regular-sized electric vehicle takes thousands of gallons to extinguish; imagine a very large truck. This just is not a good idea or feasible.

This legislation must be paused

I understand the concern and thought process regarding moving away from fossil fuels, and I applaud your efforts. However, the efforts and legislation are causing more issues than they are solving.

This legislation must be paused, and individuals from the affected industries must be brought in and consulted. As our elected officials, more time must be spent researching an issue and soliciting information from the boots on the ground.

A little common sense for the commonwealth

With all due respect, this is Massachusetts, NOT California. Please don’t follow their rules.

People in this state need to do more research before they make these laws that don’t work. We already have towns that were forced into buying electric buses that they can’t even use and are now parked; they are back using the diesel ones.

A little common sense for the commonwealth would go a long way. Please repeal or significantly delay ACT and HDO. Thank you for your time.

It will be detrimental to existing businesses

Implementing the ACT rule will make it nearly impossible for towing and trucking companies to acquire needed equipment. Local heavy truck dealers will not be able to sell new trucks, as such, will not be able to keep their doors open in Massachusetts, and will be forced out of the Commonwealth, making it even more cumbersome for towing and trucking companies to get vehicles serviced at dealers and purchase new equipment.

This rule is being forced upon infrastructure and an economy that cannot sustain it, and it will be detrimental to existing businesses within the Commonwealth.

This will harm my company

This will harm my company as we still use outdated tow rates. I wouldn’t be able to afford one of these trucks. Also, they would make the job longer due to having to spend time charging them.

Mandating these vehicles now is crazy

Nobody disputes that electric vehicles are the future! Mandating these vehicles now is crazy! They are cost-prohibitive, and the infrastructure is not there to support them.

Please consider the actual effect this will have on businesses

This mandate absolutely needs to be put off immediately until these issues are corrected. This agenda hasn’t been thought through and is being pushed as a feel-good regulation.

Please consider the actual effect this will have on businesses and taxpayers’ finances and ability to be productive.

The ACT rule will cause undue harm to my small business

I am a small business owner in Marlborough, Massachusetts, providing municipal towing services for the Marlborough Police Department. The ACT rule will cause undue harm to my small business and all others in the towing industry.

Please delay the ACT rule; otherwise, the motoring public will be at risk as towers will not be able to provide our critical services to police and fire and privately for the taxpayers of Massachusetts.

Please stop this

This will cripple many businesses! Please stop this from passing.

We cannot operate our business with the mandates

Please help with this matter. We cannot operate our business with the mandates being put in place.

Electric tow trucks don’t exist

I’ve been in the towing industry for 30 years. Electric tow trucks don’t exist – not for light, medium, or heavy duty. The truck’s diesel engine does the work.

If you eliminate diesel, you have electricity. Diesel-fueled repair shops will die off. Replacement parts and diesel fuel for existing trucks will skyrocket in price. Diesel generators run many electric charging stations; how does that make sense?

Electric tow trucks do not exist

Most tow company owners cannot afford an electric tow truck, which does not exist in the towing industry, never mind a fleet of them.

Electric trucks have no infrastructure set up

It discreetly affects me when purchasing new equipment because the dealers and manufacturers discontinue most parts on older trucks after 10 years. This makes it very difficult to purchase new equipment.

Electric trucks have no infrastructure set up and are not feasible in the dump truck industry. I am considering moving to another state if this continues. I may just possibly close up.

You will destroy all towing companies

You will destroy all towing companies in Massachusetts.

Using diesel engines with a smaller footprint is far more cost-efficient

Using diesel engines with a smaller footprint is far more cost-efficient than digging for materials to make a battery.

Small business is proven to be the backbone of the economy, and trying to push an overpriced electric vehicle with n0 options of efficiency is not the answer.

There isn’t an infrastructure to handle this yet.

There isn’t an infrastructure to handle this yet.