CARB Reminds Truckers of Jan. 1 Compliance Deadline
The California Air Resources Board has reminded heavy diesel truck owners that new emission rules take effect Jan. 1 and they may need to report their compliance online.
The rules, adopted in 2008 and amended last year, apply to all privately owned and federal government diesel trucks operating in California.
Separately, large fleets in California also face a Jan. 1 deadline to have SmartWay-approved fuel efficient aerodynamic technology equipment installed on 15% of trailers manufactured before 2011.
Fleets that signed up late for a phase-in option must have 20% of their 53-foot or longer dry van or reefer trailers equipped with the technology on that date.
For the engine rule, “fleet owners who need to get the facts should call CARB’s diesel hotline or go to CARB’s website for assistance,” CARB assistant chief of mobile sources Erik White said in a statement.
The regulation provides owners of trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 26,000 pounds with two options to reduce emissions.
They can either follow a staggered implementation that requires 1996-99 model year engines to be retrofitted with a diesel particulate matter filter, or can do a flexible phase-in requiring 30% of their trucks to have a PM filter.
Owners of small fleets can postpone the January 2012 compliance requirement for their heavier trucks until 2014, but must report their fleet information to CARB by Jan. 31 in order to receive the extension.
