The Bay Area Air Quality Management District announced that it will allocate $5 million dollars to fund more of the truck replacement applications received during the recent Goods Movement Program solicitation. The funds will be used to assist Bay Area truck owners in meeting the state’s approaching air quality mandates.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is the regional agency responsible for protecting air quality in the nine-county Bay Area.

In 2008, the California Air Resources Board approved a truck and bus regulation to significantly reduce particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen emissions from diesel vehicles operating within California. The regulation applies to nearly all older diesel-fueled trucks and buses weighing more than 14,000 pounds and requires them to reduce emissions by either installing a particulate filter, a new engine or replacing the truck.

Over the last five years, the Bay Area Air District has made a concerted effort to work with truckers and fleet owners in facilitating compliance with the law. Over $32 million dollars in incentive funding has been distributed towards installing particulate filters, installing new engines and replacing older on-road trucks. Approximately 90 tons of truck-related particulate pollution has been reduced thus far.