“We have to do things that make sense": California pumps the breaks on its plan to phase out diesel trucks

In a major shift, California has decided to halt its plan to phase out diesel trucks and require cleaner locomotives. It comes following opposition from industry groups and concerns over economic impacts.

Lewie Pugh with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association spoke with RFD-TV’s own Tammi Arender on what the rule was aiming to do, the impact on the trucking industry, and how a new administration will change environmental regulations.

Related Stories
New Resource Makes It Easier for People to Access Data on Rural Development funded Projects in Rural Communities
U.S. agriculture entered the week with mixed signals as weather, logistics, and markets shaped early-year decisions. Here is a regional breakdown of domestic crop and livestock production for the week of Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
RFD NEWS Correspondent Frank McCaffrey speaks with Texas’s Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Vicente Gonzalez about USMCA renegotiation and its impact on U.S.–Mexico agriculture trade.
Rising rural business confidence supports local ag economies, but taxes and labor shortages remain key constraints.
CoBank Knowledge Exchange’s Jeff Johnston shares the group’s positive perspective on expanding data centers into rural areas and weighs the risks and rewards for those communities.
Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller joined us to discuss data center expansion, farmland preservation, rural economic impacts, and imminent cattle biosecurity concerns affecting agriculture today.