The N.J. Association of Pipe Trades Locals 9 and 24 became the latest major organizations to sign off on a plea to State Sen. President Nick Scutari and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin to delay New Jersey’s participation in California’s electric truck regulation until at least July 1, 2027.
The group is urging the Legislative leaders to pass S3817 (Patrick Diegnan – D) and A4967 (Clinton Calabrese – D).
The N.J. Association of Pipe Trades was just one of a handful of groups who added their names to the letter. The others:
- Chauffeured Transportation Association of NJ
- Mechanical Contractors Association of NJ
- NJ Builders Association
- NJ Gasoline C-Store Association
- NJ Green Industry Council
- NJ Motor Truck Association NJ Nursery & Landscape Association
- NJ School Bus Contractors Association
The ACT regulation currently is set to take effect in New Jersey on Jan. 1, 2025.
The ACT regulation requires a certain ratio of EV trucks to be sold relative to regular diesel trucks, before additional diesel trucks can be sold.
While the point of compliance is upon truck manufacturers, they are enforcing it against truck dealers. As of fall 2024 New Jersey truck dealers report that they are not able to satisfy customer requests for new heavy-duty diesel trucks since they haven’t sold the requisite number of heavy-duty EV trucks.
Dealers say they haven’t sold enough heavy-duty EV trucks for one reason, no one wants to buy them in proportion to how many the manufacturers are requiring to be sold for a number of reasons, including:
• EV heavy-duty trucks are three times more expensive than regular heavy-duty trucks.
• Heavy-duty trucks cannot exceed 80,000 GVWR lbs. Heavy-duty EV trucks are 8,000 lbs. heavier, so for every ten existing heavy-duty trucks, EV heavy duty trucks will necessitate an eleventh.
• More trucks require more CDL drivers at a time when industry is having difficulty filling positions.
In the letter, the group says it supports a move toward more EVs – just with a different timeline.
“Please understand we are not opposed to EV heavy-duty trucks and some companies are beginning to use them in select applications,” the letter says. “But as a state we are simply not ready for the requirements that ACT imposes, nor the costs that will be borne by all consumers.”
A look at the groups encouraging the Legislature to pass the bill.
- Affordable Energy for NJ
- Associated Builders and Contractors – NJ
- Beer Wholesalers Association of NJ
- Bus Association of NJ
- Chamber of Commerce Southern NJ
- Chauffeured Transportation Association of NJ
- Chemistry Council of NJ
- Commerce and Industry Association of NJ
- Engineers Labor-Employer Cooperative 825
- Fuel Merchants Association of NJ
- Garden State Seafood Association
- International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825
- Mechanical Contractors Association of NJ
- Mid-Atlantic Hearth Patio & Barbecue Association
- National Federation of Independent Business – NJ
- National Waste and Recycling Association
- NAIOP-NJ
- NJ Air Conditioning Contractors Association
- NJ Apartment Association
- NJ Asphalt Pavement Association
- NJ Association of Counties
- NJ Builders Association
- NJ Building Material Dealers Association
- NJ Business and Industry Association
- NJ Chamber of Commerce
- NJ Coalition of Automotive Retailers
- NJ Construction Materials Association
- NJ Farm Bureau
- NJ Food Council
- NJ Gasoline C-Store Association
- NJ Green Industry Council
- NJ Motor Truck Association NJ Nursery & Landscape Association
- NJ Propane Gas Association
- NJ Retail Merchants Association
- NJ School Bus Contractors Association
- NJ State Association of Pipe Trades (Local 9, Local 24)
