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Governor Gavin Newsom’s Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulations call for phasing out gas and diesel engines and replacing them with zero-emission, such as plug-in electric and hydrogen-electric (electric). However, truck manufacturers have not developed electric alternatives to meet a towing or recovery truck’s range, demanding performance and safety standards.
California towing and recovery truck body manufacturers purchase truck chassis (truck cab and frame) from major American truck manufacturers, and then the towing or recovery truck’s body is attached to the chassis. While electric trucks are not new, truck manufacturers have not developed those alternatives to meet a towing and recovery truck’s travel range and demanding performance and safety standards. The current electric truck chassis does not have sufficient space and rail strength for the heavy body, hydraulic equipment, and massive batteries that would be necessary. The batteries cannot sustain the truck during long patrols, which is problematic for rural areas of the state, nor can they operate the hydraulics over long periods as required during major accident and recovery duties. Having to recall a towing or recovery truck for recharging during an emergency recovery effort could come with life-threatening consequences.
In a few months, even the cleanest, most modern new towing and recovery truck chassis and bodies will no longer be assembled or sold in California, putting the businesses and jobs of those who assemble them at risk. As current towing and recovery trucks retire and are not replaced, new lower-emission trucks will no longer be available to drivers.
California towing and recovery drivers provide 24/7 roadside assistance to over 27 million California motorists, supporting first responders and clearing 1,200 daily road accidents and 2,400 daily mechanical breakdowns. As the service life of existing tow and recovery trucks expires, no new inventory of trucks will be built or sold in California. This lack of adequate towing and recovery vehicles means longer waits for motorists that breakdown and longer times in traffic as accidents take longer to clear. Chain reaction accidents are a common occurrence on freeways and the longer traffic is stalled the more likely additional accidents occur, posing a significant threat to public safety.
Until new electric engine technology is technologically and economically feasible, towing and recovery trucks must be classified as emergency vehicles. Call on Governor Newsom, the State Legislature, and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to protect California jobs and motorists by visiting the Take Action page.
