Small businesses have had their fair share of worries about the zero-emission rules. The need to keep the world a clean place is real. However, it may come at a cost, especially for smaller businesses. The authorities aim to keep the world safe from emissions immediately. The situation has some companies worried about their survival, as reported by Truckingdive.
The Impact of Regulations
Mark Stone of Burr Truck and Clean Cities of Central New York had something to say about the regulations. He pointed out that their business has survived a lot over the years. They survived 9/11. They came out on top after one of the greatest recessions. They were also able to survive COVID-19. Despite all these wins, he is not sure if they will be able to survive the emissions rules.
In the recent past, many truck dealerships have had to close down. Some of them have had to downsize to survive. Some of them have had to sell out to more prominent competitors. Burr Truck has stuck around since 1967 despite all the challenges. Over the years, they have had great success as Volvo and Isuzu dealers. Mark noted that it had never crossed his mind that they would have to close down someday. At the moment, he points out that they are staring down the possibility of closure due to the new regulations. New York is adamant about enforcing the rules that Mark believes they are unprepared for.
Mark says that operating a small business in New York is not easy. He states that they face many challenges at every turn. The challenges include the never-ending labor shortage. They have also had issues with the supply chain. He claims that, like most businesses, they have survived the challenges. At the moment, he is not sure they can survive the emissions regulations. The trucking industry has always been a driving force in the economy. The ACT rule, taking effect on January 1st, 2025, risks the sector. It will also affect those people who depend on trucking in any way.
The ACT rule requires that a dealer sell at least one ZEV for every ten diesel trucks. Failure to comply would result in some penalties. Even worse, the manufacturers would cut off supply. Mark has an issue with the rule as he sees the timelines as unrealistic. He notes that if the timetable stuck, they would suffer complying. The readiness to roll out and enforce the rule will not work. He argues that there isn't sufficient charging infrastructure. There are also other costs that businesses need to incur to be ready for electrification.
Moving to ZEVs is very important for environmental safety, and Mark worries that the timelines will lead most dealers to an early closure. The industry is deeply rooted in the traditional diesel trucks, and the quick transition would hurt them big time. Mark insists that Burr Truck is in line with the requirements to be fully compliant by 240. He claims they have already implemented the technologies they will need. Mark’s concern is the timelines for 2025. He insists that New York must work on a common ground to help achieve electrification without risking businesses and people losing their jobs.
