The Washington trucking industry and state officials are clashing over the push to electrify commercial trucks. The State Electric Vehicle Coordinating Council accuses the industry of undermining the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule, which mandates a gradual shift to electric trucks. But the Washington Trucking Associations (WTA) argues the state has failed to deliver the needed infrastructure.
In a June 30 letter, WTA President Sheri Call noted there are no public charging ports for electric trucks in the state, despite a state goal of 1,400 by now. WTA also cites federal preemption, calling for Washington to stop implementing ACT. Call warned electrification will cost $10–15 billion and strain utility infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the council blames poor EV sales on “market failure.” The state aims to ban new gas-powered light vehicles by 2035, requiring 3 million charging ports, but faces setbacks like vandalism and lack of chargers.
Ecology officials argue ACT remains feasible because many trucks return to base for charging and point to investments like the West Coast Truck Charging Corridor. They insist rules must align with California’s and adapt as legal and logistical challenges evolve.
