ATA President Chris Spear Thinks So

In June, American Trucking Associations President Chris Spear met with Donald Trump in Florida. The goal was to understand what a second Trump term could mean for trucking.

Spear left the meeting feeling positive. He believes Trump would support the industry on key issues like electric truck mandates, independent contractor rules, and lawsuit abuse.

Electric Truck Rules

Spear said the biggest topic was environmental rules, especially California’s push for electric trucks. He criticized the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for forcing unrealistic deadlines on truck makers.

“We have to retire trucks and buy new ones that aren’t widely available,” Spear said. “And if you can get one, it’s three times more expensive than a diesel truck.”

Charging is another problem. “It takes 15 minutes to fuel a diesel truck for 1,200 miles,” Spear explained. “An electric truck takes 6-8 hours to charge and only goes 200 miles. It’s just not practical.”

Spear expects the new administration to slow down these mandates.

“I feel good that we’ll see some waivers revoked and a more reasonable approach,” he said.

The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) agrees. “This administration will likely reduce regulations,” said TCA Vice President David Heller. “Trucking supports the environment, but we need a strategic plan.”

TCA and over 150 Republican lawmakers have urged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to revise its emissions rules. They want more time and options like renewable diesel.

Lawsuits and Legal Changes

Spear also hopes Trump will help curb excessive lawsuits in trucking. Some cases have resulted in massive settlements, like a $462 million award against Wabash National Corp. after a fatal crash and a $160 million verdict against Daimler Truck North America.

ATA has pushed for reforms at the state level, and Spear is optimistic about continuing that in 2025. “We’ve had success in multiple states. We’re ready to keep pushing next year,” he said.

TCA believes the new administration will support moving trucking lawsuits to federal courts, which could limit huge settlements.

Regulation Slowdown

ATA’s Dan Horvath predicts fewer new trucking rules under Trump. “We’ll likely see a deregulatory period, which will be a relief,” he said. “Speed limiter rules will probably disappear, but we’ll still see some focus on safety.”

Automated trucks are another issue. “The truck has already left the garage on this one,” Horvath said. “But the industry still wants clear guidance.”

Sean Garney, co-director at Scopelitis Transportation Consulting, said trucking already has a sense of what to expect from Trump.

“He’s done this before,” Garney said. “This time, he won’t have to correct past mistakes. The real question is how fast agencies can get to work.”