Washington—Following today’s Senate vote of 56-42 to confirm former Representative Lee Zeldin to serve as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, American Trucking Associations President & CEO Chris Spear issued this statement:
“The trucking industry congratulates Administrator Zeldin on his confirmation, and we look forward to the restoration of common sense in our nation’s environmental policies under his leadership of EPA.
“Over the past several years, the mad dash to zero and a patchwork of unachievable mandates on unrealistic timelines have posed a grave threat to the trucking industry, the supply chain, and our economy. The enormous price tag of this haphazard transition would have significantly raised costs for American consumers without delivering the promised environmental benefits. This was deeply regrettable, because our industry and EPA had worked together for decades to promote major advances in engines and emissions control systems that are 99% cleaner. As a result, 60 trucks today emit the same amount as one truck manufactured in 1988.
“Administrator Zeldin is a proven, collaborative leader America’s truckers deserve to restore balance at EPA. By reviving the productive partnership with our industry, he can build on our impressive environmental achievements without disrupting the supply chain. We look forward to working with Administrator Zeldin to replace electric-truck mandates with national emission standards that are technologically achievable, encourage innovation, and account for the operational realities of our essential industry.”
Jan 29, 2025