The future of your fleet rests with knowing latest trucking regulations

As a fleet manager or owner, making sure your vehicles comply with emissions standards and regulations is almost certainly an ongoing concern. You should know that a lot has changed in the past year. The Trump administration relaxed standards and is working on repealing requirements to utilize zero-emission vehicles or decrease greenhouse gas emissions. 

If you manage a fleet in California or one of nearly 20 states that adopted California emission standards, you may have already taken steps to upgrade your fleet to meet zero-emission guidelines. Although the standards are subject to change further and may apply to some vehicle types but not others, there are still plenty of reasons to evaluate the condition and efficiency of your fleet. Here’s what you need to know. 

How have regulations changed in the past year? 

From 2024 into early 2025, the regulatory environment for vehicles began to shift. In March 2025, the EPA initiated actions aimed at revoking state exemptions to federal emissions guidelines and reconsidering certain federal emissions standards. The scope and final form of those changes—especially for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles—remain pending as the regulatory process and legal challenges unfold. 

Removal of CARB Waiver

The Trump administration’s actions were designed in large part to target California’s exception to the federal setting of emission standards. Since the 1960s, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) had sought repeated waivers that allowed the state to set higher emission standards for vehicles, particularly for the sale of new vehicles. 

Under CARB’s prior regulatory framework, California had proposed requiring 35% of new-vehicle sales to be zero-emission by 2026, eventually phasing out new gas-powered vehicle sales by 2035. But since the waiver enabling those rules has been revoked (pending legal challenge), those targets may not take effect as originally planned. 

In recent years, nearly 20 states had adopted these standards. Their ability to increase their own standards beyond federal guidelines relied on the waiver. In June 2025, Congress passed resolutions to revoke the CARB waiver, which—if the revocation holds up in court—would force those states to revert to federal vehicle-emission standards rather than California’s stricter rules. However, the legality of that action is currently being challenged, so the ultimate outcome remains uncertain. 

Relaxation of federal emission standards 

Although the rescinding of the CARB waiver certainly got the most attention, the EPA also announced that it would be relaxing vehicle standards set in 2024 by the Biden administration. This mandate required that auto manufacturers meet stricter criteria for tailpipe emissions on light-duty and medium-duty trucks for model years 2027-2032. 

The EPA claimed that these standards effectively required manufacturers to step up production of electric vehicles to meet the terms of the mandate, and it estimated that it would increase costs by about $37 billion per year. The EPA also proposed repealing the Obama-era Endangerment Finding, which set the stage for higher emission standards on greenhouse gas emissions in light, medium, and heavy-duty vehicles. 

What is the current regulatory climate for fleet vehicles? 

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the current regulatory environment feels very up-in-the-air. Many of the EPA’s proposals have yet to be finalized, while the agency continues to add more, such as their guidelines to mitigate DEF System failures. Even more unclear is the plan to replace the older standards with different ones.

One possible outcome is that some greenhouse-gas emissions regulations may be lifted or delayed; but it’s also possible that new standards—at the federal, state, or local level— could be developed in the future. For example, the EPA also recently exempted trucks registered out-of-state and out-of-country from CARB's Clean Truck Check program. and Given the uncertainty, fleet managers should prepare for a variety of regulatory paths. 

What can fleet managers do to stay ahead of the curve? 

Trying to adopt practices based on changing or nonexistent regulations forces you to think for yourself, but it’s not as scary as it seems. Be practical and forward-thinking about your choices, and you’ll likely land on the right decision. 

Evaluate your fleet: The first thing you can do is perform a thorough evaluation of your fleet. Arrange for emissions inspections and track changes over time. When you have repair needs, buy the truck parts and other components and arrange to fix your vehicles promptly. If you have a vehicle that is causing persistent problems, it might be time to remove it from circulation. 

Focus on efficiency: Although emission standards might be in flux, efficiency is always something to work toward. Greater efficiency decreases operating costs and can often help your vehicles extend their lifespan. Pay attention to sudden decreases in fuel efficiency, and schedule inspections or repairs as needed. Effective repairs mean you don’t have to rush to replace vehicles if you can’t afford them. 

Work forward, not backward: Although the Trump administration controls U.S. emission standards, that won’t be true forever. Eventually, another administration will be setting the rules. Use the period of relaxed standards to take stock of your fleet inventory and make strategic plans to upgrade it over time. That way, you won’t be caught off-guard by a sudden uptick in emission requirements. 

Make an informed decision: Ultimately, the best thing you can do is to stay informed on current regulations and rely on that information to guide your choices. You might achieve lower emissions and costs by keeping your gas-powered vehicles in top condition or gradually upgrading your fleet to electric vehicles. While you have the ability to decide for yourself, it makes sense to take charge. 

Managing a fleet during changing emission regulations is complicated. You have to understand how the regulations have been relaxed in recent months, and watch for the new standards to emerge. The good news is that you still have a lot of decision-making power, and it’s time to use it. By staying ahead of the changes, you can make decisions that best prepare your fleet for the future.