Air Quality

BAY AREA AIR DISTRICT'S GOODS MOVEMENT GRANTS

The Bay Area Air District will provide financial incentives to owners of equipment used in freight movement to upgrade to cleaner technologies. Application deadline is August 15, 2008. For more information, click on: Bay Area Air District Grants.

ENFORCEMENT

The California Air Resources Board (ARB) is testing all heavy duty trucks and buses for excessive smoke and tampering. This includes California vehicles, out-of-state vehicles, and Mexican and Canadian vehicles.

Tests are performed at California Highway Patrol (CHP) weigh stations, fleet locations, or randomly selected roadside locations.

The penalty for the first citation is $800 (U.S. dollars) and the truck must be repaired. If the violation is corrected within 45 days, $500 is waived by the ARB. If 45 days are exceeded, the truck must still be repaired, and the $800 penalty paid. For further violations within one year, the penalty is $1,800 and, after repairs, the truck must be retested by the ARB for compliance.

The ARB web site is at: www.arb.ca.gov.

NOTE: In extreme cases, the CHP may take a vehicle out of service for an outstanding citation if it is not properly cleared. For more information, call the CHP at (916) 445-1865.

PROPOSED NEW AIR QUALITY RULES

The On Road Heavy Duty Diesel Vehicle (In Use) Regulation is in the rule making process and is scheduled to go to the Air Resources Board (ARB) in October 2008. The rule will affect all heavy duty diesel vehicles traveling in California, regardless of where the vehicle is registered or based. The ARB Mobile Source Control Division (MSCD) will draft the rule. The rule will require that vehicle engines meet the standard for 2007 models by the calendar year 2014. The rule is presently in draft stage.

Anyone interested in the rule may visit the web link above and sign up for the e-mail list server for automatic e-mail notices. There is a series of workshops scheduled for late January to early February 2008. Stakeholders are encouraged to participate to learn more about the rule and have their voice heard. Another way to participate is to fill out the on-line Truck and Bus information Survey.

ARB INCENTIVE PROGRAMS

A variety of incentive programs promote the use of lower-polluting retrofit technology and cleaner diesel engines. Many of these programs are administered through the local air pollution control districts to those who qualify, according to the guidelines developed by the Air Resources Board. Two of the larger programs are:

• the Carl Moyer Program and the
• the Goods Movement Emission Reduction Program.

More information can be found at the local air pollution control districts, which are listed at: www.arb.ca.gov/capcoa/roster.htm.

Return to the Caltrans "Office of Truck Services" page.

Revised 8/4/08.