The sale of semi and other heavy-duty trucks has plummeted 99% in Massachusetts as the result of new environmental regulations designed to reduce carbon emissions, according to the association that represents dealers in Massachusetts.
“There was over 1,000 new vehicles on order at this time last year. Today there’s less than ten,” said Kevin Weeks, Executive Director, Trucking Association of Massachusetts.
Weeks said manufacturers are prohibited from selling diesel trucks unless they also have buyers for electric trucks, and he said there is scarce demand for electric due to a lack of available inventory, significantly higher prices, and nearly non-existent charging infrastructure.
“These trucks simply do not exist. If they don’t exist, it’s difficult to try to purchase them,” Weeks told Investigative Reporter Ted Daniel, “I just think common sense doesn’t seem to be prevailing here.”
Massachusetts is one of 11 states that follows California’s lead when it comes to emissions rules for the transportation industry. California’s Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) regulation went into effect in Massachusetts on January 1.
ACT mandates an increasing number of zero-emission vehicles be sold until they are completely outlawed by 2036. For this year, ACT requires that 11% of all 2025 model semis, garbage, cement, and other heavy-duty trucks be electric in Massachusetts.
“The biggest sector of emissions right now in Massachusetts is transportation,” said Vickash Mohanka, Chapter Director at the Massachusetts Sierra Club. “We know that if they do comply with this, we will save thousands of lives over a 30-year period in Massachusetts.”
Mohanka said truck manufacturers have been involved in creating the new regulations and have had adequate time to prepare.
“All of these regulations are done with the manufacturers. The manufacturers basically consented to that. And now they’re telling the dealers something different than what they told the regulators,” Mohanka explained at his Boston office.
But according to the Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center, there are zero public charging stations specifically designed to accommodate battery powered big rigs in Massachusetts.
Joseph Nolan, Executive Director, Utility Contractors’ Association of New England said fleets looking to go electric must contract with power companies to build charging infrastructure and the process can take years.
“That’s not just dropping a line from a telephone pole to the yard. It is building a brand new one, two, three, four, five-million-dollar power station,” Nolan said.
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) told 25 Investigates large trucks can plug into publicly available fast chargers if space allows. DEP said hundreds of millions of dollars is being spent on rebates, incentive programs and charging infrastructure including mobile charging stations.
DEP paused ACT enforcement for cities and towns that purchase vehicles used in snow removal like dump trucks and front-end loaders after receiving significant pushback. The regulations remain in place for the private sector.
“These reasonable adjustments bring Massachusetts in line with other states and ensure that our public safety and municipal partners can still get the equipment they need as the electric truck market matures. We’re committed to continuing to expand our state’s charging infrastructure and promoting electric vehicle adoption,” a DEP spokesperson said.
Members of the trucking industry, contractors, municipal workers, and state lawmakers have all petitioned Governor Maura Healey (D), MA, and her administration to delay the start of ACT regulations in Massachusetts.
In a letter sent to Governor Healey late last month, a group of more than 30 lawmakers from across Massachusetts wrote, “implementing the ACT rule at this time may unintentionally lead to more emissions while harming our public and private sector partners throughout the Commonwealth.”
Weeks said medium and heavy-duty truck operators are being forced to keep older and less environmentally friendly diesel models on the road because of the new regulations.
“These companies, quite frankly, will be committing financial suicide if they got involved in this early on,” he said.
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