Deadlines are looming for owner-operators and small fleet owners to meet the California Air Resources Board’s Truck and Bus regulation. The regulation requires installation of particulate matter (PM) retrofits beginning Jan. 1, 2012, and replacement of older trucks starting Jan. 1, 2015. By Jan. 1, 2023, nearly all vehicles will need to have 2010 model year engines or newer equivalents.
Heavier truck and bus operators must comply with the regulation starting Jan. 1, CARB said. Small fleets with three or fewer diesel vehicle can delay compliance until Jan. 1, 2014, but CARB recommends that fleets report all heavier trucks now if any have 1996 to 1999 model year engines. Wait until next year to report if you do not have any, CARB says.
Fleet owners need to report which vehicles are retrofitted with PM filters and which have original equipment PM filters on 2007 model year or newer engines. Larger fleet owners need to report to CARB by Jan. 31 to take advantage of the PM filter phase-in option.
To delay compliance until 2014, small fleet owners of up to three trucks with 1996 to 1999 model year engines must report by Jan. 31, and those with 2000-2004 engines must report by Jan. 1, 2013.
The regulation has provisions to provide extra credit for PM filters installed prior to July 2011 and has delayed requirements for fleets with three or fewer vehicles, provisions for agricultural vehicles and other situations.
Fleets that report by Jan. 31, 2012 will have more flexibility to bring heavier vehicles into compliance. No reporting is required for diesel truck owners that comply with the engine model year schedule and do not plan to use credits, and extensions.
By reporting all heavier trucks that operate in California now you will be able to take advantage of the following flexibility options until 2017 if they apply:
• PM filter phase-in option
• Downsizing credits
• Early compliance credits
• Adding cleaner vehicles
• Low-mileage construction truck extension (single truck owner must report now)
• PM filter extension for NOx exempt area operation
• Log truck phase-in option
All small fleet owners must report by Jan. 31, 2014, to show that one vehicle has a particulate material filter. They can delay the ultimate requirement of having a 2010 engine until 2020 or later.
Fleet owners with two or three trucks must report that the second and third trucks have PM filters by 2015 and 2016, respectively.
Fleet owners also can comply by phasing in PM filters for a percentage of their trucks from 2012 to 2016. Starting Jan. 1, 2020, fleet owners must upgrade to 2010 engines.
For more information and to report vehicles go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/onrdiesel/reportinginfo.htm.
