CARB Proposes Amendments to Truck and Bus Regulation

3/12/2014 10 Considerations in Choosing a Freight Audit and Payment Provider


On Friday, March 7th, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced that the board will be considering a set of amendments to the Truck and Bus Regulation at its April 24-25 meeting. The CARB proposal is intended to help ensure that the air quality benefits originally envisioned by the regulation  will be achieved, by providing some additional compliance flexibility to vehicle owners. The proposed amendments are subject to change at the Board hearing and are currently not in effect.

Specifically, the CARB board will consider the following amendments:

  • More time for rural areas with cleaner air
  • Additional time for 2nd and 3rd truck in small fleets
  • Additional time for owners that cannot finance compliance
  • Adjusted compliance timelines for low-use or vocational trucks 
    • Work truck extension (up to 20,000 total miles/year) 
    • Low-use vehicle exemption (up to 5,000 total miles/year) 
    • Low mileage agricultural vehicles 
    • Heavy cranes 
  • Recognizing early actions already taken by fleets to comply 
    • Extending use of existing PM filter retrofits 
    • Extending use of phase-in option credits 

Currently, a California-based broker who arranges the transportation of a motor carrier traveling in the State of California needs to “verify” that each hired company is either in compliance with the regulation or has reported compliance to CARB. Motor carriers that register with the CARB to use flexible compliance options must report information about all of the heavier vehicles in their fleet that operate in California and can print a certificate that confirms their reporting. California-based brokers should request this certificate from carriers to ensure compliance. Additionally, brokers can utilize the CARB truck and bus regulation online database to search for compliant carriers. If the carrier does not have a certificate, CARB recommends that brokers should obtain other documentation and a statement from the carrier that they are aware of the CARB Truck and Bus Regulation. This will demonstrate that the carrier is in compliance.