Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, April 30, 2025:
Volvo, Mack seek approval for new low-NOx engines
Volvo Trucks North America and Mack Trucks announced at the 2025 Advanced Clean Transportation Expo in Anaheim, California, this week that they are seeking approval from the California Air Resources Board for new engines that meet CARB’s 2024 Omnibus requirements.
Volvo Trucks' 0.05 NOx engine is built on the company's D13 VGT engine platform.
“Right now we have a 0.1 NOx engine that is [CARB] compliant, but today we announce an application for certification for the 0.05 NOx engine,” said Peter Voorhoeve, VTNA president. “We hope to be able to make that commercially available by the fourth quarter of this year.”
Read more about Volvo’s new low-NOx engine in this report from Overdrive sister publication CCJ.
Similarly, Mack is seeking approval for its new MP13 engine, Mack’s 13-liter engine platform previously known as the MP8.
Once certified, the new MP13 CARB 2024 Omnibus-compliant engines, rated at 425 horsepower and 1,750 lb.-ft. of torque or 455 horsepower and 1,850 lb.-ft. of torque, will be available in the company’s new Pioneer Class 8 on-highway tractor.
Although currently under fire from the Trump Administration, CARB’s current regulation requires a 75% reduction in NOx and 50% reduction in particulate matter compared with existing EPA standards for engines in Class 8 highway trucks for engine model years 2024 through 2026.
In addition to announcing the new engine, Mack Trucks President Jonathan Randall also hinted at the release of a battery-electric version of the Mack Pioneer slated for orders beginning in 2026. The trucks, which target regional haul, drayage and hub-and-spoke operations, will have 300-plus miles of operating range and will be available as a day cab or 44-inch short sleeper.
Read more about Mack’s new engine and the future of the Mack Pioneer from CCJ here.
[Related: Congress moves to overturn EPA's CARB emissions waivers]
Truck dealers urge Congress to roll back CARB emissions regs
The American Truck Dealers (ATD) group representing more than 3,200 franchised commercial truck dealers who sell new and used trucks, tractors and trailers is asking Congress to act on resolutions introduced in early April to revoke two California emissions waivers that allow more stringent regulations in the state.
ATD President Jacqueline Gelb, in a letter to members of the U.S. House of Representatives, urged the passage of joint resolutions that would revoke the waivers for the California Air Resources Board’s Advanced Clean Trucks rule and Omnibus Low Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) regulation.
Geib noted that 10 other states have already adopted the ACT rule that incrementally bans the sale of diesel trucks, “creating a patchwork of regulations for truck dealers.”
“Truck dealers have been investing millions of dollars to sell and service ZEVs,” Geib said. “However, the demand for ZEVs is nowhere close to the pace necessary to meet California’s mandates. In 2024, less than 1% of Class 8 truck sales in the state were ZEVs.”
She highlighted the cost of “zero-emission” vehicles as a hurdle for adoption, noting that a typical Class 8 electric truck costs $420,000, compared to $180,000 for a comparable diesel-powered unit. She also said that “for heavy-duty ZEVs to operate reliably, a national commercial vehicle charging network is needed,” but doesn’t yet exist.
Regarding the Low-NOx rule, Geib said the regulation “has increased the price of a diesel truck and is expected to continue to increase in cost over the next two years as the industry is forced to meet unrealistic regulatory timelines. Due in part to this regulation and ACT, California’s truck diesel sales were down on average 50% in 2024 versus 2023. Congress should reject California’s NOx rule because the marginal benefits of the rule do not outweigh the significant related costs and impacts on small businesses and jobs.”
[Related: EPA reconsidering Biden-era 'Clean Trucks Plan']
Used-truck prices on the rise
Average used Class 8 retail sales prices in March rose by the largest month-over-month percentage since March 2022, according to the latest data from ACT Research.
ACT Research reported a 7% month-over-month increase in used-truck sales in March, coupled with a 6% increase in average prices and a 2% decline in average miles.ACT Research
Used trucks saw a 5.6% increase in average prices during the month, but remained 6% lower than the same month a year ago.
“On a year over year basis, prices were 6.0% lower, while falling 7.7%” year to date, said Steve Tam, Vice President at ACT Research. “Besides the usual factors that influence used truck prices, such as mileage, age, and condition, a number of other considerations are likely affecting recent pricing changes.”
Tam noted that slowing new truck sales have led to fewer trades to add to used-truck inventory. “Lack of new trucks may also be resulting in traditional new-truck buyers looking to the secondary market to substitute affordable, available used trucks for scarce, expensive new ones,” he said. “Essentially, this is helping to tighten freight hauling capacity. Assuming freight stays steady, used truck prices rise as a result.”
