California continues to target trucking industry professionals, and the latest bureaucratic nuisance involves smog checks.
A new regulation promulgated by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and approved by the state’s Air Resources Board, subjects truck drivers to more frequent and stringent smog tests. Golden State truck owners will now have to take time off from hauling more than 70 percent of the country’s goods and materials to undergo nitrous oxide emissions testing.
Following the results, owner-operators and freight carriers will be tasked with reporting results to the state agencies. CARB officials claim freight haulers may be able to utilize existing technology to meet the state’s standards.
“For telematics users, an onboard diagnostics inspection that draws emissions control performance data from the vehicle’s internal computer (allows) an inspection (to) be completed automatically without taking the vehicle out of operation,” CARB reportedly said.
Onboard diagnostics able to conduct this review only became part of Class 8 standard equipment offerings in 2013. Owners of late-model commercial motor vehicles will likely be compelled to undergo roadside checks or take time off from hauling freight. CARB officials recently indicated that it plans to set up a network of “roadside emissions monitors to screen for high emitting trucks.”
The first roadside check station is expected to go online in the San Joaquin Valley along the South Coast. CARB wants to grow checkpoints across the state, and truckers can anticipate travel delays as they undergo routine smog checks at “randomly selected roadside locations.”
“CARB is establishing additional testing options as well for fleets that may not want use the telematics option, including the ability to purchase a handheld testing device to perform OBD inspections and/or hire a trained entity to perform the test for them,” a CARB spokeswoman reportedly stated. And “to provide fleets multiple options, so they can choose which testing option makes the most sense for their fleet’s day-to-day operation.”
Before the new rule, single-rig owners were largely exempt from smokestack checks. CARD and the California Air Resources Board agreed to scuttle that courtesy. The regulatory agencies also plan to ramp up testing requirements from twice annually to four inspections every year.
“We would argue that is way over-testing because CARB’s own data shows nine out of every 10 trucks are operating the way they are supposed to,” California Trucking Association vice president Chris Shimoda reportedly said.
The American Trucking Associations and the California Trucking Association reportedly petitioned the regulatory agencies for items such as “an enhanced education effort” and “soft enforcement period.”
CARB officials have not indicated whether exemptions or the suggested soft rollout will occur. A spokeswoman reportedly stated the agency “will require the vehicle owner to act upon this notification and get the needed repairs to fix the issue that was identified.”
The California Trucking Association is currently embroiled with the State of California involving the AB5 law that effectively bans owner-operators and independent truckers. The trucking organization has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down the law it argues runs contrary to federal interstate trucking laws.
Sources: freightwaves.com, phys.org
King of the lamies says
I don’t go to California, so I don’t care what kind a laws they got
Jeremy Young says
Carb is a big joke. Reap every hardship this causes you California. Such a beautiful state I’ll never step foot in again.
Tommy Molnar says
Like I mentioned in another article, California is a cancer on the rest of the country. Anti-business, anti-trucking, anti-personal freedoms, anti-ANYTHING that is American. We should extend the wall from the Mexican border to run along the total length of California. No one goes in, and no one gets out (well, maybe some properly papered conservatives who want to escape). Everything California touches (just like the fed) turns to do-do.
Jr says
I’m glad we left the shit hole. Here in Texas we do have regulations but not like Shitfornia that want to put you out of business. Bet, that it most of trucks will stop work for a day or two the state will make up their mind regarding those stupid regulations. But, the problem is that truckers won’t do it.
RheumTrucker says
If they’re so worried about air pollution maybe they should focus on proper forest management instead. The air pollution coming out of California because of wildfires is a much bigger problem. I guess they don’t care so much because their smoke blows out of state.
Luis Luis Burgos says
🤣🤣🤣🤣 agree
Max says
I am retired, so I don’t have a dog directly in this fight anymore. But my opinion:
I support the efforts for clean air and clean trucks. Most drivers do so as well (I think). But no matter how well intended the government program, I fear it will slide into another confiscatory tax to support bloated government.
This will eventually drive independent drivers away from freight in and out of Cali and exacerbate the growing problem California, and the rest of the nation will have to deal with concerning moving goods. Good luck to all.
saddlesore says
I retired as well several years ago.. Now travel the US in a 40′ tag axle diesel motorcoach, stopping and see’n every durn thing I’ve had to just drive on by and wonder what that was.
You are correct that the current “control and Tax ’em all” stance by California ( and a few other states) Will continue to cause disruption and harm to the transportation industries..
This is also spilling over to those RV’ers that have diesel powered RV’s.. The time is near that out of state RV’ers will activly avoid traveling to or thru California..[many are already avoiding California,, there are 47 other states Plus Canada and Mexico that welcome their business]
Rick B says
GD Just Kleenex up your act and make sure your damm truck meets their specs or stay the hell out of Ca. Simple. I got a new truck and don’t run Cali anymore and I don’t plan on doing it anymore Cali runs that simple. If you live their u should already know how to deal with. So no more damm whining.
Erich Whaples says
The Def systems are a fraud and their doing more damage to the environment then they help. Carb is a joke and so is the entire worthless State of California . They allow Mexican crap trucks to pollute the state with no regulations and you can buy your way out of having the systems anyway.
Jack Carberry says
We have seen the beneficial effects of emissions controls. So easy solution…keep yourselves and your dirty trucks in your third-world states. You’re not wanted here.
Gordon Bourg says
Maannn!! F*@K Commiefornia and every idiot who puts up with their crap. I hope they get buried in the sh*t they spew.
VanHorne says
Just one more example of why I will never accept any assignment that requires me to operate anywhere near ‘the Left coast.’ Anything past the Rockies is a dead write off for me and mine. I’ll change hats before they’ll make me take a load to or from that forsaken wasteland of harassment, fraud and corruption.
BIDENAINTPREZ says
It is about rime….compliant companies and owner operators know the true costs of these regs. It costs atleast 20-30k a year to buy/own/trade emissions trucks. I am tired of the uneven playing field. Polluting trucks and emissions tampered trucks roll all over the commie state of Cally. Currently they fine 300$ a year per truck cheating. What a joke. Freight rates need to be 4-5$ a mile for Cally and their emissions rules. I do not like the rules but I comply and it is very expensive. Probably why so many emissions trucks are tampered with and operated in that crap hole.
mousekiller says
Well , Californicate you keep making it tougher for trucks to do the job of delivering freight and to your state which now is on the bottom of the list of getting it done. NY doesn’t look now.
You target trucks and truck drivers for non essential reasons while you reduce funding for essential operations such as the road dept on I 80. Ca has reduced funding so bad that of the 4 snow plows that the road dept has to keep Donner clear is down to 2 snow plows. Why. ? They took away the ability to get parts. No money. Greed and ignorance is in control of the state under the dark shroud of politics. Ca Gov you will do nothing about the homeless using streets and sidewalks for toilets and do absolutely nothing about it, but target trucks. .So, truck drivers, don’t go to Ca as it may take you several days and several unnecessary inspections you will pay for because they think your the bad guy. Demand a minimum of $ 10 a mile to go to any part of California. Tack on your own fee like a hazard fee for crossing the state line . I know it will never happen today . But it can be a stress reliever just thinking about it .