US Sen. Dan Sullivan has introduced the Freedom to Haul Act, aimed at rolling back the Biden administration’s electric vehicle mandates for the trucking industry.
The legislation is part of a broader Republican initiative to counter regulations imposing impractical and costly burdens on businesses and consumers.
Sen. Sullivan, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, wants to reverse the Biden Environmental Protection Agency’s “Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles – Phase 3” rule, which is a de facto EV mandate on the trucking industry. These regulations disproportionately impact rural states like Alaska, where extreme cold, vast distances, and infrastructure limitations make widespread EV adoption impractical.
“The delusional and costly Biden-era EV mandates are not only disastrous for our economy, they are also completely impractical in rural states—like Alaska—which has extremely cold temperatures and communities separated by thousands of miles where reliable transportation is a matter of life and death,” Sullivan stated.
“President Trump revoked these ridiculous mandates by executive order on day one, halting far-left radical environmentalists’ thinly disguised attempt to get rid of the internal-combustion engine that would only hurt hard-working families across the country and deepen our reliance on Chinese Communist Party-controlled critical minerals. My colleagues and I are backing President Trump’s action with legislation to overturn these ludicrous rules and ensure that our truckers can continue to reliably haul and deliver the goods and services that Americans and Alaskans rely on.”
The Freedom to Haul Act has garnered support from key industry stakeholders, including the Alaska Trucking Association, the American Trucking Association, and Americans for Prosperity.
“The Alaska Trucking Association stands proudly alongside the trucking industry in its dedication to reducing emissions and fostering a sustainable future. We commend the efforts of industry stakeholders who have continuously demonstrated their commitment to innovation and progress while ensuring the smooth movement of goods across our nation. We deeply appreciate Senator Sullivan’s introduction of the Freedom to Haul Act, a critical step in advocating for balanced and practical federal emissions standards,” the Alaska Trucking Association wrote.
The trucking industry has proven its commitment to reducing emissions, “but regulators unfortunately turned their backs on industry stakeholders in support of unworkable mandates. ATA is grateful to Senator Sullivan for introducing the Freedom to Haul Act, which will ensure that ambitious but achievable federal emissions standards do not pick technology winners and losers,” the American Trucking Association wrote.
Americans for Prosperity, a national group active in Alaska, said, “Senator Dan Sullivan understands that Alaskans require diesel and petrol-powered modes of transportation to move goods, fuels, and commerce throughout the very remote regions of his home state. After four years of ‘Bidenomics,’ it’s time to turn the page on the forced electrification of our commercial trucking industry. Let’s stop the scare tactics of the EPA and provide regulatory certainty to commercial trucking operators throughout the United States.”
Sen. Sullivan’s bill is part of a broader legislative package introduced by Republican senators aimed at overturning what they consider overreaching environmental regulations:
- Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act – Sen. Mike Crapo: Repeals the Biden EPA’s tailpipe emissions standards for passenger cars and trucks, preventing mandates that effectively require EV adoption.
- Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act – Sen. Markwayne Mullin: Prevents the implementation of the Biden EPA’s Advanced Clean Cars II regulation, which mandates the phase-out of gasoline-powered cars by 2035.
- Stop California from Advancing Regulatory Burden (CARB) Act – Sen. Mike Lee: Eliminates the Clean Air Act waiver exemptions that allow California to enforce stricter emissions standards than the federal government, which critics argue increases costs and reduces consumer choice nationwide.
And here I thought the title indicated we’d be seeing the national speed limit raised to 100 mph.
Ha! – sd
There are no EV mandates, EPA milage standards have been a boon to Tesla. When milage standards go away,so will the penalties automakers have been paying to Tesla
How about eliminating DEF on diesel engines since we are finally in a common sense mode.
Hahaha who would actually think that long haul EV semi trucks would be a viable option?
Super heavy batteries. Short range. Long charge time. Not to mention EV surcharge would absolutely overtake our current fuel surcharge.
Do people think the truck stops are going to have 20 or more charging stations installed to accommodate the mandate? How about the powerload onthe grid.
Make no mistake dear readers, this is not for the environment. Leftoids already proved they will burn cyber trucks in protest. Throwing the environmental debate out the window! No, this is about crippling our country’s ability to mobilize.
The evidence is now clear. Democrats = Destruction, delusion, despair, detrimental, and overall dumbfunkery.
You all see it for yourselves real time.
Don’t be fooled any longer.
This is badly needed. Hauling heavy loads is a whole different animal than your typical passenger cars. Batteries drain quickly necessitating frequent stops with long charging times. Juneau has a million dollar electric Proterra (now bankrupt) bus sitting on a lot somewhere broken. The best alternative to diesel appears to be hydrogen but its several years away.
Dismantle Biden’s (or his auto-pen’s) socialist wall brick by brick.
Any news about the vaccine mandate for CDL holders? Is that still in force?
Freedom to Haul A$$! I like it!