Comment Log Display

Today, I am here in support of the Advanced Clean Fleets rule, and
asking CARB to vote unanimously in support of the standard. This
vote will help to end the negative impacts caused by diesel trucks
that emit harmful gasses in our communities by transitioning to
zero emission truck fleets and protect truck drivers.

A yes vote will help our impacted community members in San Diego
live longer, healthier lives, especially low income communities and
our communities of color located near ports and other places where
diesel trucks are frequently concentrated, leaving behind smog and
other harmful greenhouse gasses.

Fleet and truck owners who transition will also be able to save
money by lowering fuel and maintenance costs associated with diesel
trucks while also helping to protect our communities that have
already experienced significant negative health impacts to its
residents. Investments into zero emission trucks and infrastructure
is already underway and helping to support high road jobs in our
communities.

A yes vote will also help to protect truck drivers by providing the
much needed worker protections that prevent drivers from exploitive
practices that have plagued the industry for generations. This rule
will help end the practice of worker misclassification that has
allowed many companies to wrongfully hold back protections and
benefits to workers in order to increase profits.

CARB also needs to direct staff to develop the Advanced Clean
Trucks 2 sales rule by 2026 and direct staff to find more ways to
reduce pollution and protect workers who are not protected under
the Advance Clean Fleets rule. 

Good work has been done so far by CARB to define and regulate
"controlling companies" in the ACF rule. However, loopholes still
exist that allow businesses that operate 10 to 50 trucks to
misclassify drivers as independent contractors in the California
for-hire trucking industry.

Lowering the fleet threshold from 50 to 10 trucks would
significantly provide further protections to truck drivers and help
save lives in our communities where many of them live within.  By
regulating fleet sizes of 10 or more trucks, nearly 90 percent of
the pollution from California's heavy duty trucks would be covered
under the rule.

Companies, not drivers, should be held responsible for compliance
with CARB regulations. 

In San Diego, we are calling on you, our Air Resources Board, to do
your duty and protect California's workers and communities being
most negatively impacted by the exploitative practices of companies
in these industries. 

Thank you for your time.