DTNA to Restart Diesel Truck Sales in Oregon
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Daimler Truck North America will resume taking orders for diesel trucks and buses in Oregon after halting sales in late December, the company said Jan. 13.
DTNA, which manufactures Freightliner and Western Star trucks and Thomas Built Buses, stopped accepting orders as a result of the state’s implementation of emissions-reduction laws that mirror California’s Advanced Clean Trucks rule.
Credit reporting requirements led DTNA to take the drastic step. California counts sales based off zero-emission vehicle sales codes, while Oregon Department of Environmental Quality staff said it would be using registrations through the state Department of Transportation’s Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Division.
The original equipment manufacturer said the difference left DTNA unable to predict its credit balances from zero-emission vehicle sales and that was too big a risk for the company.
However, late on Jan. 13, DTNA said the “misunderstanding” had been clarified.
“DTNA’s understanding of the implementation of ACT is correct, and we will receive credits for vehicles reported to the state,” said the company, which is headquartered in Portland, Ore.
“This situation underscores the necessity for feasible, obtainable and clearly defined regulations, enabling companies to align their business practices accordingly,” DTNA added.
Credit reporting requirements led DTNA to take the drastic step to halt sales in Oregon. But the "misunderstanding" has been clarified. (Freightliner)
Freightliner sells two battery-electric trucks — the eCascadia tractor and eM2 medium-duty truck. Both are built in Oregon, as are Western Star diesel trucks, including the 57X tractor. Sister company Thomas Built Buses offers the Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley battery-electric model.
With the resolution of the point of contention, eight dealerships in Oregon will again be able to sell new diesel Freightliner and Western Star trucks, including six Freightliner Northwest locations and two owned by the Penske Automotive Premier Truck Group unit.
Freightliner’s Cascadia is North America’s best-selling Class 8 tractor.
DTNA sold more than 1,500 diesel vehicles in Oregon in 2023.
Waters
The subsidiary of Germany’s Daimler Truck wanted the Beaver State to administer the regulations the same way the Golden State does, Vice President Product Integrity Sean Waters told Transport Topics in a Jan. 9 interview.
The company is keen to continue sales of new diesel trucks in Oregon, said Waters, who pointed specifically to its recently updated, fifth-generation Cascadia. That truck debuted in October at American Trucking Associations’ Management Conference & Exhibition.
Oregon adopted the ACT rule in November 2021. The regulations apply to all new on-road vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 8,500 pounds. The proportion of medium-duty and heavy-duty zero-emission trucks that OEMs must sell rises each year. Zero-emission truck percentages vary by the type of truck. For model year 2025, it is 7% for tractors and 11% for rigid trucks.
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Truck makers can generate and bank credits for model year 2022-2024 zero-emission truck sales, which can then be used to comply with the rule.
While DTNA halted sales of internal combustion engine vehicles completely, Volvo Trucks North America and Mack Trucks told TT in recent days they were limiting sales of diesel trucks in Oregon to comply with the ACT regulations.
The two subsidiaries of Sweden’s Volvo Group were not immediately available to comment Jan. 13 on whether this position had changed as a result of the clarifications that allowed DTNA to restart sales.
Among other major truck manufacturers, Kenworth and International Motors told TT they would continue to sell diesel trucks in Oregon. Kenworth’s fellow Paccar subsidiary, Peterbilt, declined to comment.
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