Some truck owners in Arizona awoke New Year’s Day to an anti-pollution law that prohibits them from driving their older trucks because they don’t meet the state’s emissions requirements. A ban on trucks older than 1988 – rated at 26,000 pounds or more and registered within the Greater Phoenix area - was passed in 1996 and lawmakers believed that eight years would be enough time for these trucks to
Some truck owners in Arizona awoke New Year’s Day to an anti-pollution law that prohibits them from driving their older trucks because they don’t meet the state’s emissions requirements.
A ban on trucks older than 1988 – rated at 26,000 pounds or more and registered within the Greater Phoenix area - was passed in 1996 and lawmakers believed that eight years would be enough time for these trucks to be phased out or retrofitted for compliance.
Not so, according to officials of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality which has been fielding phone calls from hundreds of small-truck operators who were unaware of the new law. Although the majority of truck owners are in compliance, about 2,000 or so small operators are not prepared, because notices about the law were mailed out in November and some say this was not enough time to respond.
Non-compliant truck owners have some leeway. Truck owners can get a one-year reprieve if they can prove that they have ordered parts needed to make their engines comply or are on a waiting list to get the needed repairs. Otherwise, trucks with pre-1988 engines that fail the emissions test will not be given their registration.
Voice your opinion!
To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!
What challenges are top of mind for fleet professionals in 2025? Get exclusive insights from the 2025 Fleet Trends Survey and discover where the industry is headed next.
The most successful fleets accomplish more than delivering freight. To accomplish this, fleets need a fuel that’s reliable, more economical and more sustainable. That fuel is ...
Are your KPIs driving real fleet improvement? Learn how to set smarter, data-driven benchmarks, track success like top-performing fleets, and apply proven strategies to optimize...
Learn how eets can enhance truck utilization and minimize safety incidents using business intelligence and AI. Delve into innovative practices, technology integration and real...
