ATD dealers look to challenge legislators over electrification standards

LAS VEGAS – American Truck Dealers leaders are looking for fellow dealer members to challenge government agencies to convey their concerns about electrification and emissions standards. 

As the California Air Resouces Board (CARB) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) discuss and implement new electrification and emission standards, dealers should communicate their needs to legislators, Scott Pearson, president and dealer principal at Peterbilt of Atlanta and new chairman of American Truck Dealers, said Friday during his keynote address at the American Truck Dealers Show in Las Vegas. 

“We need to inform legislators how completely unrealistic and overly aggressive EPA and CARB regulations are and the impact they will have on consumers, your businesses and our economy,” Pearson said.

The cost to purchase heavy-duty trucks continues to decline as cost expectations for electric heavy-duty trucks by 2030 land at $177,000 — significantly above the average price of diesel trucks at $108,500, according to research firm Statista. 

Meanwhile, Scott McCandless, president of Aurora, Colo.-based McCandless Truck Center spoke with the EPA, he said during a Thursday presentation at the ATD Show. McCandless and fellow ATD member Hank Fracalossi, spoke with the EPA at Dearborn, Mich.-based Tri-County International., highlighting to the agency the importance of further innovation before increased emissions regulations, he said. 

“Our message was focused on the need for zero-emission vehicles to be affordable, reliable, and to meet the needs of the customers, McCandless said. “The trucks must pencil out for the customer in the long run or they will not be purchased.” 

Registration is now available for Equipment Finance Connect. The dealer-centric equipment lending and leasing event of the year offers opportunities for dealers to learn new strategies, foster valuable partnerships and emerge with ideas to immediately apply to their businesses. Learn about free dealer registration at EquipmentFinanceConnect.com.