CARB: Proposed Amendments to the Truck & Bus Emissions Regulations for California Truck Drivers
The amendments were proposed after stakeholders and, more importantly, truck drivers voiced concerns about their ability to comply with regulations.
ARB Chairman Mary D. Nichols said, “The trucking community spoke and we listened. The good news is that we will not have to sacrifice the state’s air quality goals to assist fleet owners. These amendments, which include more flexible deadlines and increased opportunities to access incentive funding, will further our emissions reduction goals by better ensuring that fleets can meet the requirements of the regulation.”
Many predicted, and were sadly correct, the cost of compliance would put many small California carriers out of business and prevent non-compliant out-of-state trucks from entering the state.
The California Resource Board will discuss the proposed amendments at the April 24 Hearing.
What are the proposed changes?
A longer phase-in period for diesel particulate matter (PM) requirements for trucks that operate exclusively in certain rural areas with cleaner air;
Additional time and a lower cost route for all small fleet owners to meet their PM compliance requirements, while reopening opportunities for these fleet owners to apply for and receive public incentive funding;
A compliance route for owners currently unable to qualify for a loan to finance required upgrades;
Adjusted schedules for low-use vehicles and certain work trucks;
Recognition of fleet owners who took action to comply by providing additional “useable life” for retrofit trucks and reducing near-term compliance requirements.
If the board approves the amendments, carriers and owner/operators who have already made investments to their trucks will be provided with additional benefits. The proposed amendments provide flexibility to small fleets, lower mileage fleets, and fleets from areas that are also working for cleaner air.
ARB Chairman Mary D. Nichols responded, “We recognize the huge investments that many business owners have already made in order to meet the requirements of the Truck and Bus Regulation. Their efforts have gone a long way toward helping us to meet our mandatory deadlines and we applaud them for what they have accomplished.”
Overall these amendments would also ensure that, by 2020, the annual emission reductions would be at the same level as the existing regulation.
We will keep you posted on any new developments of the California Truck and Bus Emissions Regulations, for more information visit – Proposed Amendments to the Truck and Bus Regulation
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