Major Media “Carry its Water” by Regurgitating Half Truth
If you go to CARB’s own website and search on “ZEV trucks” you will get this headline, “1 in 6 new trucks, buses, and vans in California are zero-emission.”
That news release is from CARB and dated June 6, 2024 but on September 23, 2025 CARB doubled down on misinformation with this new announcement, “Nearly 1 in 4 new trucks, buses and vans in California go zero-emission, 2 years ahead of schedule.”
Of course, all the major media outlets just regurgitate whatever CARB spews without any meaningful “fact checking.” It’s either by design or a lack of journalistic integrity. Either way, its an example of why American’s trust in the media to report news “fairly and accurately” has dropped to its lowest level in five decades!
What is important to note about CARB’s misleading headlines is when it says “trucks” virtually everyone immediately thinks of a “big truck,” or more accurately Class 7 & 8 vehicles. When you take a deeper dive into what is being sold versus the hype guess what? CARB includes in its numbers Class 2b sales which are vehicles such as Tesla’s Cyber truck (probably the ugliest truck ever built) and Ford electric pick-ups and vans. CARB counts as “trucks” vehicles with a GVWR of 8,500 pounds.
In 2024 ACT sales data shows a total of 131,552 “trucks” sold in Classes 2b-8. When you distill the numbers further the total “truck” ZEV sales accounted for 30,026 of the 131,552 sold statewide. Of the “truck” ZEV’s sold, only 1,887 were over 14,000 pounds. Class 7 & 8 trucks only accounted for 422 of that 1,887 number. We could toss out percentages, but we think you get the point.
Another data point CARB doesn’t seem to have – maybe they do but hide it – is how many of the actual Class 7 & 8 ZEV trucks sold (virtually all with huge public subsidies) are even in service? WSTA has only a handful of members who took the chance and procured these types of trucks, with one minor exception, we know all of the trucks are parked collecting dust right now. There are multiple reasons for this, and CARB staff has chosen to act as if their mantra is “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” when it comes to heavy-duty ZEV trucks.
For example, WSTA has one member with 10 Nikola trucks and all have been parked since March, only 8 are actually operational (the other two are down for lack of parts availability since Nikola went bankrupt) yet for the 8, there is no available fueling source (hydrogen) for them (now).
We “get” that small pick-ups and vans usually being operated short distances are probably “form fit” for ZEV adoption – their duty-cycle requirements are different than “large trucks” and recharging doesn’t present the same issues as with Classes 7 & 8.
The “ripple effect” of CARB’s Advanced Clean Fleets (ACT) rule that mandated truck OEM’s sell ever increasing percentages of ZEV’s was OEM’s having to limit the ability of California dealers to sell trucks with diesel engines. Of course, CARB tries to dispute this – they explain it away as the OEM’s fault (they can always buy emissions credit from CARB). Yet new Class 7 & 8 truck sales in California have basically collapsed 75% because of the ACT rule (which did get an EPA enforcement waiver under Biden Administration).
Everyone acknowledges newer diesel-powered trucks (even natgas) emit far less emissions than older trucks. How much better could California’s air quality goals have been met if CARB didn’t once again screw around in a marketplace they clearly don’t understand (same thing happened with the Truck & Bus regulation).
All you really need to know is when CARB touts EV “truck” sales numbers they are engaged in purposeful deception.
CARB Factually Misrepresents Adoption Rate of Commercial ZEV’s
/in Blogs, Regulations & CARBMajor Media “Carry its Water” by Regurgitating Half Truth
If you go to CARB’s own website and search on “ZEV trucks” you will get this headline, “1 in 6 new trucks, buses, and vans in California are zero-emission.”
That news release is from CARB and dated June 6, 2024 but on September 23, 2025 CARB doubled down on misinformation with this new announcement, “Nearly 1 in 4 new trucks, buses and vans in California go zero-emission, 2 years ahead of schedule.”
Of course, all the major media outlets just regurgitate whatever CARB spews without any meaningful “fact checking.” It’s either by design or a lack of journalistic integrity. Either way, its an example of why American’s trust in the media to report news “fairly and accurately” has dropped to its lowest level in five decades!
What is important to note about CARB’s misleading headlines is when it says “trucks” virtually everyone immediately thinks of a “big truck,” or more accurately Class 7 & 8 vehicles. When you take a deeper dive into what is being sold versus the hype guess what? CARB includes in its numbers Class 2b sales which are vehicles such as Tesla’s Cyber truck (probably the ugliest truck ever built) and Ford electric pick-ups and vans. CARB counts as “trucks” vehicles with a GVWR of 8,500 pounds.
In 2024 ACT sales data shows a total of 131,552 “trucks” sold in Classes 2b-8. When you distill the numbers further the total “truck” ZEV sales accounted for 30,026 of the 131,552 sold statewide. Of the “truck” ZEV’s sold, only 1,887 were over 14,000 pounds. Class 7 & 8 trucks only accounted for 422 of that 1,887 number. We could toss out percentages, but we think you get the point.
Another data point CARB doesn’t seem to have – maybe they do but hide it – is how many of the actual Class 7 & 8 ZEV trucks sold (virtually all with huge public subsidies) are even in service? WSTA has only a handful of members who took the chance and procured these types of trucks, with one minor exception, we know all of the trucks are parked collecting dust right now. There are multiple reasons for this, and CARB staff has chosen to act as if their mantra is “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” when it comes to heavy-duty ZEV trucks.
For example, WSTA has one member with 10 Nikola trucks and all have been parked since March, only 8 are actually operational (the other two are down for lack of parts availability since Nikola went bankrupt) yet for the 8, there is no available fueling source (hydrogen) for them (now).
We “get” that small pick-ups and vans usually being operated short distances are probably “form fit” for ZEV adoption – their duty-cycle requirements are different than “large trucks” and recharging doesn’t present the same issues as with Classes 7 & 8.
The “ripple effect” of CARB’s Advanced Clean Fleets (ACT) rule that mandated truck OEM’s sell ever increasing percentages of ZEV’s was OEM’s having to limit the ability of California dealers to sell trucks with diesel engines. Of course, CARB tries to dispute this – they explain it away as the OEM’s fault (they can always buy emissions credit from CARB). Yet new Class 7 & 8 truck sales in California have basically collapsed 75% because of the ACT rule (which did get an EPA enforcement waiver under Biden Administration).
Everyone acknowledges newer diesel-powered trucks (even natgas) emit far less emissions than older trucks. How much better could California’s air quality goals have been met if CARB didn’t once again screw around in a marketplace they clearly don’t understand (same thing happened with the Truck & Bus regulation).
All you really need to know is when CARB touts EV “truck” sales numbers they are engaged in purposeful deception.
CARB Chair Liane Randolph to Retire from State Service
/in CARB Consultant, General NewsSACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that California Air Resources Board (CARB) Chair Liane Randolph will be retiring from state service effective September 30, 2025 and named Senior Advisor to the Governor for Climate Lauren Sanchez to serve as the next CARB Chair.
“Serving the public has been the honor of a lifetime and I am incredibly proud of everything the agency has accomplished over the last five years. I thank Governor Newsom for the opportunity, my fellow board members for their partnership, and CARB staff for their unwavering dedication to the mission of clean air and a better future for all Californians,” said Chair Randolph. “As I leave state service, I do so with gratitude and hope — knowing the next generation is ready to lead with courage, compassion and conviction. Lauren brings intellect, tenacity and a deep commitment to California. I pass the baton with full confidence in her ability to carry this work forward with heart and vision.”
During her time as Chair, CARB expanded its focus on improving conditions in communities that suffer from the highest levels of air pollution in the state, and the Board has adopted landmark climate and environmental policies, including the 2022 Scoping Plan laying out California’s path to carbon neutrality by 2045, and implementing Governor Newsom’s 2020 executive order on zero-emission vehicles, accelerating the transition to a cleaner transportation system.
Other agency accomplishments during Chair Randolph’s term include:
Chair Randolph dedicated the majority of her career to public service, including more than 20 years in state leadership roles, most recently as CARB Chair since 2021. Prior to her work at CARB, Randolph served as a Commissioner at the California Public Utilities Commission from 2015 to 2021, Deputy Secretary and General Counsel at the California Natural Resources Agency from 2011 to 2014 and Chair of the California Fair Political Practices Commission from 2003 to 2007.
Chair Sanchez starts October 1, 2025, and assumes Chair Randolph’s current term which ends in December 2026. The appointment is subject to Senate confirmation
WSTA Signs Industry Letter On CARBS Climate Disclosure Reporting
/in Association News, General News, Governmental Affairs and CommunicationsThe WSTA signed onto an industry letter urging CARB to modify its Corporate Greenhouse Gas Reporting and Climate Related Risk Disclosure regulations. While the regulation doesn’t directly affect small entities, indirectly it will as effected entities will require those, they do business with to supply them with the necessary data to complete their reporting requirements.
CARB Truck Partnership Under Attack…and Rightfully So!
/in Regulations & CARBThe following is a chronology of several recent actions and related attachments with additional details concerning the CARB Clean Truck Partnership (CTP)…arguably a preempted, underground agreement. The following are recent events related to this scheme.
On August 7, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a cease-and-desist order to Daimler to order them to abandon CARB combustion engine regulatory standards in light of the Congressional Review Act (CRA), 3 resolutions of June 12 (attached, “Exhibit B”)
On August 11, engine/truck manufacturers Daimler, Paccar, Volvo and International sued CARB in order to nullify the Omnibus, ACT and Clean Truck Partnership (attached, OEMs v. CARB Complaint)
On August 15, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) sues CARB saying that CARB’s regulations are preempted by federal law (3 files attached, two referred to as “Complaint in Intervention” for light duty and heavy-duty CARB rules)
On August 18, the California Office of Administrative Law (AOL) declined to hear/respond to the WSTA petition concerning the CTP many issues including underground regulation claims filed June 18.
Likely, much more to come!
California Office of Administrative Law Rejects WSTA Petition Against CARB
/in Regulations & CARBOn August 18, WSTA received a response from the AOL relating to our petition that the Clean Truck Partnership is an underground regulation (a position also enunciated in the 4 OEM complaint against CARB dated 8/11/2025).
Lawsuit brought by four top truck makers against the CARB and Gavin Newsom, filed 8/11/25
/in Governmental Affairs and Communications, LegalHere you can read the full complaint and exhibits A and B from the lawsuit brought by four top truck makers against the CARB and Gavin Newsom.
Read TPPF’s Letter to the EPA Re: Proposed Greenhouse Gas Vehicle Rule Rescission
/in Governmental Affairs and CommunicationsRead the 17-Org Industry Letter to the Engine Manufacturers Association – 8/4/2025
/in Regulations & CARBSeventeen 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… There is, however, debate over the validity of the agreement now that the Advanced Clean Trucks and CARB’s 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.
The Trump Train Proceeds on a Collision Course with CARB
/in Blogs, Regulations & CARBThe Republican majority in Congress and the return of Trump has CARB and its allies continuing to backpedal while simultaneously deploying teams of lawyers to defend a ZEV mandate on the trucking industry. The week before Trump’s inauguration, truckers breathed a big sigh of relief to hear that CARB withdrew its federal application to implement […]
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