The California Air Resources Board has issued proposed amendments to three regulations affecting trucks operating in California.


A number of amendments are proposed, including changes to the engine compliance requirements under the Truck and Bus regulation, the addition of Class 7 trucks to the Drayage Truck Regulation, and a delay to the low-rolling-resistance tire requirements for equipment subject to the Tractor-Trailer Greenhouse Gas Regulation.

The Truck and Bus Regulation amendments would simplify the regulation by eliminating the fleet averaging and percent limit options, by modifying the BACT compliance schedule and
proposing a new phase-in option. It would also delay the initial compliance requirements and delay the phase-in of 2010 engines.

CARB wants to close a couple of loopholes in the Drayage Truck Regulation, where noncompliant drayage trucks are avoiding the regulation's requirements by operating outside port and rail yard properties, and extend requirements to Class 7 trucks, which are not currently included under the regulation. Some fleets have started using Class 7 trucks for moving empty or lightly loaded containers.

Since the adoption of the GHG regulation, several issues have arisen, including the incompatibility of certain trailer configurations with existing verified aerodynamic devices, the unavailability of SmartWay verified retread tires, the need to move certain trailers from one location to another without having to meet the aerodynamic device and/or tire requirements, and issues related to reporting requirements. CARB is proposing amendments that would provide flexibility in reporting, as well as, provide temporary, short-term exemptions for specific circumstances involving storage trailers, transfer of ownership, and moving local-haul trailers.

CARB will consider adopting the proposed amendments for all three regulations on Dec. 16-17 in Sacramento. A notice of public hearing, which summarizes the proposed changes and copies of the revised regulations are available on CARB's website.