Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025:
Environmental advocate businesses, orgs call on OEMs to honor CARB partnership
Seventeen businesses, environmental advocates and public health organizations on Monday sent a letter to North America's truck and engine manufacturers urging them to remain committed to the Clean Truck Partnership (CTP) agreed to in 2023.
The Clean Truck Partnership is an agreement between the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and Cummins, Inc.; Daimler Trucks North America; Ford Motor Company; General Motors Company; Hino Motors Limited, Inc.; Isuzu Technical Center of America, Inc.; Navistar, Inc.; Paccar Inc.; Stellantis N.V.; Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association; and Volvo Group North America. CARB said the partnership “marks a commitment from the companies to meet California’s vehicle standards that will require the sale and adoption of zero-emissions technology in the state, regardless of whether any other entity challenges California’s authority to set more stringent emissions standards under the federal Clean Air Act.”
There is, however, debate over the validity of the agreement now that the CARB "Advanced Clean Trucks" and "Omnibus" regulations have been revoked by Congress. The Western States Trucking Association in June filed a petition with California’s Office of Administrative Law (OAL) challenging the CTP. Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers in November filed an antitrust lawsuit against the truck makers over the agreement.
[Related: Trump signs resolutions to ‘kill’ California’s emissions waivers]
"It is disturbing to watch truckmakers flirt with abandoning their commitment to go electric," said Adam Zuckerman, senior clean vehicles campaigner for Public Citizen's Climate Program. "Their diesel trucks will cost hundreds of thousands of lives and trillions of dollars in health-related damage." Public Citizen is among the letter signatories.
Zuckerman added that, "without a clear and public recommitment to the Clean Trucks Partnership, manufacturers will continue to pollute our air and poison our communities while undermining the hundreds of businesses investing in electric trucks."
Overdrive sister publication CCJ obtained a copy of the letter in which the signatories expressed their concern over the OEMs’ "silence, equivocations, and statements undercutting the validity of the (CTP), an agreement initially championed by your companies... This is no time for equivocation and backpedaling. The purpose of the Clean Trucks Partnership is to provide a clear path forward for industry and the public despite federal policy churn."
The Clean Freight Coalition on Monday reiterated that it believes the CTP is invalidated since the CARB regulations have been rolled back.
Read the full report on the letter to OEMs from CCJ’s Jason Cannon here.
[Related: Trucking org challenges California's authority to enforce OEM partnership]
Acting FMCSA Deputy Administrator to join Scopelitis law firm
National transportation law firm Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hanson & Feary announced Tuesday that Sue Lawless, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Acting Deputy Administrator and Chief Safety Officer, will join the law firm as its newest attorney on Oct. 1.
Sue Lawless
“Sue has been a leader on the front lines in shaping policy and influencing the law within the trucking industry for many years,” said Scopelitis President Greg Feary. “Scopelitis is quite fortunate to gain Sue’s superior foresight, skill, and knowledge. She is a perfect addition to our D.C. office.”
Prior to serving as the FMCSA’s Chief Safety Officer, Lawless served as the Director of FMCSA’s Motor Carrier, Driver, and Vehicle Standards Division. Lawless also formerly served as FMCSA’s Assistant Chief Counsel for Enforcement and Litigation.
Lawless received a Bachelor of Arts degree from McDaniel College and a law degree from the University of Baltimore.
FMCSA extends HOS waiver for Oregon wildfires
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has extended an emergency declaration that was previously issued by Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek in response to wildfires in the state.
Kotek’s declaration allowed the Oregon Department of Transportation to issue an emergency waiver for truck drivers providing direct assistance to the emergency.
That waiver exempted truck drivers responding to the wildfires from Parts 395.3 and 395.5 of the hours-of-service regulations. It was originally set to expire on July 30.
On July 29, FMCSA determined that an emergency existed that warranted the extension of the governor’s emergency declaration.
The regulatory relief under the extension of the declaration applies regardless of the origin of the trip, so long as the carrier or driver is providing direct assistance to the state of Oregon. Direct assistance does not include transportation related to long-term rehabilitation of damaged physical infrastructure after the initial threat to life and property has passed, FMCSA said. Nor does it include routine commercial deliveries, including mixed loads with a nominal quantity of qualifying emergency relief added to obtain the benefits of the declaration.
With the extension, the waiver is now effective through Aug. 30, or until the end of the emergency -- whichever is earlier.
[Related: New HOS relief for wildfire response]
12 truck drivers named semi-finalists for ‘Transition Trucking’ military veteran award
Kenworth, Fastport, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes initiative on Monday announced 12 semi-finalists for the 2025 “Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence” award.
Established in 2016, the award honors the achievements of military veterans transitioning into careers in the transportation industry. This year’s semi-finalists represent a wide range of U.S. military service branches, including members of the National Guard and Reserve.
- Kathleen (Kat) Carreto, U.S. Army National Guard (E-5), Roehl Transport (trained by Roehl Transport, Inc.)
- Bradley Lecky, U.S. Army (E-4), Crawford Electric, a Sonepar USA Company (trained by Troops Into Transportation)
- Federico Hudson, U.S. Air Force (E-7), Van Wyk, Inc. (trained by The CDL School)
- Gaylon Hensley, U.S. Army (E-7), Melton Truck Lines (trained by Central Tech)
- Daniel Hemphill, U.S. Army (E-4), Wayne R. West Trucking (trained by Del Mar College Transportation Services)
- Mark Scriven, U.S. Army (E-6), Stevens Transport (trained by HDS Truck Driving School)
- Joseph Barotti, U.S. Air Force (E-6) and U.S. Marine Corps, Werner Enterprises (trained by Roadmaster Drivers School)
- Nicholas Baughan, U.S. Army (E-5) and Army Reserve, Werner Enterprises (trained by Into Transportation)
- Macy Mattice, U.S. Army (E-4), Melton Truck Lines (trained by Jones Technical Institute)
- Ryan Gordon, U.S. Army (E-5), Prime, Inc. (trained by Phoenix Truck Driving School)
- Precious Cannon-Scott, Air National Guard, (E-4) Prime, Inc. (trained by Tulsa Technology)
- Charles Jones, Jr, U.S. Army (E-7), Roehl Transport (trained by Georgia Driving Academy)
As part of the award program, Kenworth will provide the grand prize for the 10th consecutive year.
This year’s award is a T680 equipped with a 76-inch sleeper and the Paccar Powertrain featuring the Paccar MX-13 engine, Paccar TX-12 automated transmission, and Paccar DX-40 tandem rear axles.
“This year’s ‘Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence’ award semi-finalists exemplify the dedication, leadership, and commitment to service that military veterans bring to the trucking industry,” said Kyle Kimball, Kenworth director of marketing. “Kenworth is proud to partner with Fastport and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes initiative for the tenth year, and we look forward to recognizing the distinguished semi-finalists who continue to serve our country through excellence behind the wheel.”
As part of the 10th annual award program, each semi-finalist will attend a ceremony at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum on Sept. 18 in Columbus, Ohio. The following day will include a tour of the Kenworth Chillicothe manufacturing plant where semi-finalists will be recognized, and finalists will be announced.
Finalists and the ultimate winner will be part of a veteran-focused week that includes a Veteran-Ready Summit, and award announcement on Dec. 12. A public vote will occur online from Nov. 1 until Veteran’s Day.
