The California Air Resources Board has withdrawn its waiver request that was necessary for the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation to apply to 'high-priority' private fleets.

High-priority fleets are entities that:

• Own, operate, or direct at least one vehicle in California, and that have either $50 million or more in gross annual revenues, or 

• Own, operate, or have common ownership or control of a total of 50 or more vehicles

What this Means for 'High-Priority' Fleets

The move, which made national headlines, leaves the requirements for private fleets to purchase zero emissions vehicles void.

In a statement, CARB Chair Liane Randolph stated, "While we are disappointed that U.S. EPA was unable to act on all the requests in time, the withdrawal is an important step given the uncertainty presented by the incoming administration that previously attacked California’s programs to protect public health and the climate and has said will continue to oppose those programs."

She continued on to say that CARB is assessing its option to continue its progress as part of its commitment to improve the state's air quality.

The portion of ACF that applied to state and local government fleets continues, as that did not require an EPA waiver.

See how this impacts drayage fleets by reading our coverage on Heavy Duty Trucking.

Why the Pulled Waiver May Not Matter for Fleet Purchases

Fleets may eventually be left to only purchase ZEVs — depending on vehicle size — in the coming years anyway. That's because the Advanced Clean Trucks rule still stands. 

Under that rule, which was approved by a separate waiver in 2023, OEMs are required to sell an increasing percentage of their trucks and other vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of over 8,500 lbs. as ZEVs. 

What About the Other States that Adopted California's ACF Regulation?

Neither California nor the other states that adopted its ACF regulation are allowed to set more stringent rules without the EPA waiver. 

Because the other states did not have waivers approved by the EPA either, those regulations are also void.