The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has issued a carrier the largest ever fine of its type: $524,675 for violating California’s air quality regulations.
Randy’s Trucking, Inc. of Taft, California has agreed to pay the whopping fine in two parts. $392,755 will go to the Air Pollution Control fund which helps fund air quality research, and $130,920 will go to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to help fund the retrofitting of school bus fleets to make them CARB-compliant.
The record-breaking fine was the largest ever issued over a carrier failing to comply with California’s Truck and Bus Regulation which is intended to help cut down carbon emissions from diesel vehicles. In addition, CARB found that Randy’s Trucking failed to properly self-inspect its vehicles to make sure that they met smoke emission standards for the state, failed to check that engines were properly labeled, and failed to make sure their trucks met annual emissions requirements.
The carrier will not only have to pay the fine, but also upgrade its vehicles, submit compliance records, and send its technicians to attend classes conducted by the California Council on Diesel Education and Technology.
“It’s vital for businesses to know that we can’t relax our standards or make exceptions when it comes to protecting public health,” said Jim Ryden, CARB’s enforcement chief. “Fortunately fines this high are rare and company owners are being more proactive in making their diesel fleets compliant. Randy’s Trucking has been cooperative and is working towards full compliance on an approved schedule that reflects their commitment to upgrading their equipment.”
Next Story: Trucking Industry Sets Record With $700 Billion Year
Source: bakersfieldnow, examiner, truckingnewsonline, ngtnews
Image Source: thfire
Yes, because we all know that labels on engines improve air quality, just like slapping a sticker on a Honda makes it go faster.
If I’m not mistaken, there are still lawsuits questioning the legality of Carbs ability to enforce this fine……
I would not be paying fines or retrofitting any trucks until all was settled, the last judge ruled in favor of the plaintiffs and not carb. Too many trucks have been catching fire since they have been retrofitted…..
Anybody still operating in CA are just sitting targets waiting to be put out of business with this foolishness.
The ports are backed up and they can’t stop the perpetual striking to get trucks rolling. Once they start they try to penalize the truckers for the delay. California doesn’t have enough common sense to figure out what the problem is so to compensate for their loss of income they come up with ridiculous fines.
Don’t you just love CARB? $500,000 plus fine all based on research proven to be false…gotta love it. I will say it again….the main reason for all of this B. S. is to get rid of the owner operator and replace all of us with half a dozen giant carriers because they would be much easier to regulate. Mary Nichols has said this publicly. The biggest question I have is, where did her authority to do any of this come from? I don’t remember voting for her…or for any of these laws for that matter. Oh, I remember, it’s for our own good. You know, breathing that nasty old diesel smoke. Just so you know, a guy named Enstrom, who actually has a REAL degree in this field, says this is all Bulls..t. But they got rid of him……I guess we can all do what I’m thinking seriously about…puttin California in the rear view and moving to a state where you still have a little freedom…like Texas. See you there.
Kalifornia shakedown…
This guy’s gotta be making book. Who can shrug off a half million dollar fine?
Most companies would just say, “so long & thanks for all the fish!” And send their entire workforce to the unemployment line.