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Julie Maurer Offers Perspectives to Law360 for Article on California’s Zero-Emission Commercial Truck Standard

Phoenix, Ariz. (April 10, 2023) – Phoenix Partner and Chair of Lewis Brisbois’ National Cargo & Logistics and Transportation Practices Julie E. Maurer recently spoke with Law360 for an article titled “Key Roadblocks In Calif.'s Pivot To Electric Heavy-Duty Trucks,” which discusses California’s zero-emission commercial truck standard and the challenges it will present for companies in the transportation industry.

As the article describes, California plans to phase out sales of heavy-duty diesel trucks, which will speed up the commercial trucking industry’s move toward electrification. The state’s zero-emission commercial truck standard – the first of its kind in the country – will become effective in the near future, as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently granted a waiver permitting the Golden State to enact tougher regulations. California’s Advanced Clean Truck Regulation – which applies to medium- and heavy-duty trucks – seeks to reduce emissions, improve air quality, and address climate change. However, as the article explains, trucking manufacturers, suppliers, and vendors expect that the new standard will cause various challenges, including compliance difficulties due to supply chain shortages, inadequate charging infrastructure, and additional regulations. Moreover, the patchwork nature of regulations in this area also presents additional issues for the supply chain across the United States.

Ms. Maurer told Law360 that an efficient supply chain depends on uniform federal laws, as opposed to patchwork state regulation. She explained, "It allows California to enact rules that are significantly tougher than federal requirements, which in theory might work if the supply chain was solely state-specific, which it is not. . . . The waiver ignores that the trucking industry and the supply chain are not solely intrastate to California.… Allowing California to employ potentially drastic mandates that affect a national and worldwide supply chain can result in dramatic negative effects to consumers, including higher product prices, as well as availability and delivery issues."

Ms. Maurer (CVC, TLA, TIA, TIDA) routinely serves as national litigation counsel, representing clients in jurisdictions throughout the United States in the areas of transportation, marine and energy, and complex commercial litigation. She has extensive experience as lead chair in bench and jury trials in state and federal courts, as well as in arbitrations throughout the country.

Read the full Law360 article here (subscription may be required).

RELATED: Legal Alert, "California Introduces Nation's First Zero-Emission Truck Standard Despite Concerns From Commercial Trucking Industry"

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