Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Launches $45 Million Zero-Emission Truck Incentive Program

en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, in partnership with CALSTART, has deployed $45 million in incentive funding to advance zero-emission freight trucks, yard tractors, and charging infrastructure within the port district. Beginning this fall, these two programs will be administered by CALSTART.

Under the specific arrangements, the Clean Truck Incentive (CTI) program utilizes point-of-sale vouchers as its subsidy mechanism, with a funding cap of $39 million, allowing trucking operators to offset costs when purchasing zero-emission freight trucks, yard tractors, and supporting charging equipment; the Green Drayage Accelerator (GDA) program allocates an additional $5 million for the development of electric truck charging hubs within Port Authority marine terminals or within a 10-mile radius of terminal facilities, with a maximum of five hubs.

On September 3, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and clean transportation organization CALSTART launched a total of $45 million in incentive programs for zero-emission port trucks and charging infrastructure, targeting short-haul drayage trucks, terminal tractors, and supporting charging facilities in the port area. The two programs will be formally implemented in fall 2026, with CALSTART responsible for program design, fund management, and project execution.

Among these, the Clean Truck Incentive (CTI) program will allocate up to $39 million to support the purchase of zero-emission port drayage trucks, terminal tractors, and related charging equipment through point-of-sale vouchers. The Green Drayage Accelerator (GDA) program allocates $5 million to support up to five electric truck charging hubs, with site selection limited to within a 10-mile radius of Port Authority of New York and New Jersey seaports or marine terminal facilities. The current public proposal has not yet disclosed the maximum subsidy per vehicle, the subsidy ratios for different vehicle types, or the maximum funding amount per individual charging hub.

Funding for the two programs comes from the $451 million federal grant previously awarded to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Ports Program. In addition to supporting zero-emission trucks and charging facilities, this federal funding is also used for electric cargo handling equipment at the port, terminal electrification infrastructure, and shore power facilities for vessels. The Port Authority has initiated multiple zero-emission equipment deployments in relevant procurement documents, with APM Terminals Elizabeth planning to replace 84% of its diesel equipment fleet using program funds, along with the construction of corresponding power and charging facilities.

CALSTART will also establish dynamic data monitoring platforms for CTI and GDA to track the actual number of zero-emission vehicles deployed, vehicle operational performance, and charging facility utilization rates. The monitoring system is planned to operate through 2028, at which point the relevant data platforms will be transferred to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Prior to the formal opening of applications, the Port Authority and CALSTART will also conduct online and in-person informational sessions for port-area trucking companies.

The Port of New York and New Jersey previously operated a Truck Replacement Program, providing subsidies for companies to retire aging high-emission trucks and purchase newer low-emission vehicles. The Port Authority also deployed four high-speed electric truck charging units at the Port Newark truck service area in 2025. This CTI program marks the first time that larger-scale zero-emission trucks, terminal tractors, and vehicle-supporting charging facilities have been incorporated into a unified point-of-sale incentive system, while GDA further adds high-power charging nodes on the outer edges of the port area.

Port terminal equipment electrification projects have also entered the procurement and delivery phase. The Port Authority's Clean Ports Program documents require that relevant electric terminal tractors and supporting equipment be delivered and commissioned no later than December 31, 2028, to meet U.S. EPA program implementation deadlines. The above equipment procurement and this $45 million truck and charging incentive program both fall under the same $451 million Clean Ports funding framework, but vehicle procurement entities, subsidy programs, and terminal equipment procurement are executed independently.