California struggles to electrify trucks as Trump administration blocks state rules

California’s push to cut truck pollution and electrify freight fleets faces legal and political setbacks under President Trump, threatening public health in polluted regions like the San Joaquin Valley.

Benton Graham reports for Grist.

In short:

• California’s Advanced Clean Trucks and Clean Fleets rules aim to shift the state’s trucking industry to zero-emission vehicles, but under the Trump administration, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has revoked key waivers that would allow the state to enforce its mandates on private fleets.
• The San Joaquin Valley, where nearly half of California’s truck traffic passes through, has some of the dirtiest air in the U.S., contributing to high asthma rates and other health problems.
• Despite setbacks, state regulators and industry advocates continue building infrastructure and pushing market incentives, though some businesses are pulling back on electric truck investments amid the regulatory uncertainty.

Key quote:

“There’s no question that the transition away from combustion trucks to zero-emission would save lives, prevent asthma attacks, and generate significant, significant public health benefits all around the state.”

— Will Barrett, senior director for nationwide clean air advocacy, American Lung Association

Why this matters:

The diesel trucks that keep America’s goods moving also pour nitrogen oxides and particulate matter into the air, especially in transportation corridors like California’s San Joaquin Valley. These emissions worsen asthma and lung disease and contribute to smog and climate change. While zero-emission trucks offer a path to cleaner air, the technology faces steep economic and political hurdles. Under Trump, the federal government has moved to block California’s authority to enforce clean truck rules — a blow to efforts that protect vulnerable communities from chronic exposure to toxic exhaust. Without federal support, state-led clean air efforts are harder to enforce, and public health gains become less certain.

Read more: California backs off electric truck mandate but offers incentives