NEBRASKA AG HILGERS SAID HIS OFFICE FILED THE ANTITRUST LAWSUIT ‘ FOR AN ALLEGED PLOT TO STIFLE THE AVAILABILITY OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION SEMI-TRUCKS IN FAVOR OF ELECTRIC ONES .’
a statement in November that his office filed the antitrust lawsuit against heavy-duty truck manufacturers “ for an alleged plot to stifle the availability of internal-combustion semi-trucks in favor of electric ones .”
Hilgers ’ statement continued : “ California has imposed a series of regulations designed to essentially eliminate semi-trucks with internal combustion engines . 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 electrictruck mandates and to restrict output of diesel-powered semi-trucks in lockstep , even if a court rules that the regulations are unlawful .”
The statement continued , “ Eliminating diesel-powered semitrucks is practically impossible to accomplish and would impose enormous costs on Nebraska and Nebraska companies . 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 ,” Hilgers said in the statement .
In 2024 , Hilgers spearheaded a 17-state coalition to block California ’ s Advanced Clean Fleets regulation . That regulation “ imposes an outright ban on the sale of internal-combustion trucks ,” the statement said . “ 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 .”
Hilgers said further , “ 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 .”
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 . l FON www . fueloilnews . com | FUEL OIL NEWS | JANUARY 2025 21