California Acts Goods Movement and COP26 Declaration

California, DMV Act to Support Efficient Goods Movement Through Ports

Sacramento — Building on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive order and federal partnership to address the global supply chain crisis, the California Department of Motor Vehicles Nov. 11, is taking action to tackle the commercial truck driver shortage and keep goods moving quickly between California’s largest ports and major distribution centers.

The DMV will now offer Saturday commercial driving test appointments at three additional offices – Fullerton, Montebello and Winnetka – bringing the total number of Saturday test sites to 15. The Department began offering an extra testing day at select locations earlier this year and is also training more staff to administer the tests and redirecting examiners to the areas of greatest demand to significantly expand capacity.

The DMV currently administers approximately 5,000 commercial driving tests each month statewide. Once it fully implements the strategic staffing changes, combined with expanded Saturday testing, the DMV expects to add another 4,700 appointments a month. Because the highest demand for tests is in the greater Los Angeles area, the DMV’s main focus for staffing is in Southern California – with flexibility to respond if appointment availability starts to lag in other regions.

California has Joined COP26 Declaration on Zero-Emission Vehicles

SACRAMENTO — On Nov. 10, California signed on to a global agreement bringing together nations, states and regions, vehicle manufacturers, businesses, investors and other partners dedicated to rapidly accelerating the transition to zero emission vehicles. Launched by the UK COP presidency, the COP26 Declaration on Zero-Emission Cars and Vans aims to achieve 100% zero emission vehicle sales by 2035 in leading markets, and no later than 2040 globally.

In pre-recorded remarks for COP26 Transport Day Nov. 10, Gov. Newsom lauded the agreement lifting up California’s policies to usher in a clean transportation future. California last month surpassed one million zero-emission vehicle sales, a top export for the state. In Glasgow, California Air Resources Board Chair Liane Randolph participated in the launch of the joint declaration today.

California is home to more than 485,000 clean energy jobs and the state’s renewable energy and clean vehicle industries lead the nation in growth. Since taking office, the Governor has taken action to eliminate harmful emissions from the transportation sector and drive the transition to zero-emission vehicles.

The California Comeback Plan includes a $3.9 billion package to accelerate our zero-emission vehicle or ZEV goals, including funding for clean vehicle infrastructure and to help drive consumer adoption of ZEVs. Earlier this year, Governor Newsom joined a bipartisan group of 12 governors from across the country calling for the Biden Administration to create a path with the states to ensure that all new vehicles sold in the U.S. will be zero-emission in the near future and amplify states’ investments in ZEV charging and fueling infrastructure. 

California today also assumed leadership of the Transportation Decarbonisation Alliance, a collaboration bringing together countries, cities or regions and companies as the major drivers in sustainable, low-carbon mobility, and unveiled a call to action on zero-emission infrastructure developed in partnership with the Netherlands to support public-private collaboration on the deployment of charging infrastructure.

California’s delegation of state lawmakers and environmental leaders continued to participate in COP26 events this week, updates can be found here and here.