California Judge Rules Against CARB
A California Superior Court Judge has ruled that the state’s air-quality regulators didn’t take into account the economic impact on trucking firms that had complied with their rules when when they voted in April 2014 to allow other carriers to remain non-complaint for two years.
“We’re absolutely happy with the decision,” said Shawn Yadon, CEO of the California Trucking Association, which filed the suit against CARB along with John R. Lawson Rock and Oil Inc. of Fresno. “[The California Air Resources Board] heard from many operators who flatly said, ‘I had spent millions of dollars … to comply and now you’re basically telling folks who are noncompliant, they’re OK. You’re creating this un-level competitive landscape to the detriment of those who complied.”
CTA says that the industry spends about $1 billion annually to implement air-quality rules.
CARB disagreed with the ruling.
“California led the way by adopting our landmark regulation to clean up dirty trucks, and our air quality has benefited immensely,” CARB Executive Officer Richard Corey said in a statement. “In 2014, we recognized the extreme economic pressures experienced by smaller trucking fleets and independent owners as they sought to comply by upgrading or purchasing new equipment. We responded by amending the regulation to make it more flexible for ‘the little guys’ to comply. This court decision negates those amendments and deals a profound blow to the smaller fleets, small farmers and independent owners.”
CARB said it would appeal Judge Mark Snauffer’s decision.
