LINCOLN, Neb. – The state of Nebraska has made a bold move against trucking manufacturers.
In fact, according to a release from Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers’ office, he has filed an antitrust lawsuit against some of the nation’s largest heavy-duty truck manufacturers for an alleged plot to stifle the availability of internal-combustion semi-trucks in favor of electric ones.
In the release issued summarizing the suit, the AG accused California of “imposing a series of regulations designed to essentially eliminate semi-trucks with internal combustion engines.”
The release further stated that other states have adopted California’s regulations as well. Rather than push back or simply compete in the marketplace, heavy-duty truck manufacturers colluded to sign an agreement called the “Clean Truck Partnership.”
“The agreement commits the signatory manufacturers not to oppose additional state-level electric-truck mandates and to restrict output of diesel-powered semi-trucks in lockstep, even if a court rules that the regulations are unlawful,” the AG’s office stated.
“Eliminating diesel-powered semi-trucks is practically impossible to accomplish and would impose enormous costs on Nebraska and Nebraska companies,” Hilgers stated. “That is why Nebraska sued California officials from issuing an anti-democratic regulation to eliminate diesel-powered semis in their state. Unfortunately, these heavy-duty truck manufacturers, who dominate the market in Nebraska, have agreed to go along with California’s edict—even if Nebraska is successful in overturning the regulation. These manufacturers’ collusion will raise prices, reduce output, increase costs on Nebraskans, and is a classic antitrust violation.”
Earlier this year, Attorney General Hilgers spearheaded a 17-state coalition to block California’s Advanced Clean Fleets regulation, which imposes an outright ban on the sale of internal-combustion trucks. Under the Clean Truck Partnership, the truck manufacturers have pledged to abide by Advanced Clean Fleets, among other state-level electric-truck mandates, even if Nebraska’s challenge is successful. The antitrust lawsuit alleges that truck manufacturers have illegally conspired to anticompetitively reduce the output of internal-combustion trucks to protect their own economic interests.
“The logistics industry is a foundational piece of Nebraska’s economy—from employing thousands of Nebraskans to ensuring that Nebraska’s agriculture and liquid fuel products can get to purchasers around the country and world. Whether it is California or collusive corporations, I will continue to fight misguided and anti-democratic policies that threaten to devastate Nebraska’s trucking and biofuel industries, raise prices for consumers, and impact jobs across Nebraska and the country,” stated Attorney General Hilgers.
In addition to Nebraska, the Energy Marketers of America and Renewable Fuels Nebraska joined as co-plaintiffs in the lawsuit against Daimler, Navistar, Paccar, Volvo, and the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association.
Bruce Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has lived in three states including Arkansas, Missouri and Georgia. During his nearly 20-year career, Bruce has served as managing editor and sports editor for numerous publications. He and his wife, Dana, who is also a journalist, are based in Carrollton, Georgia.
