The California Air Resources Board has issued a reminder there are just a few days left before the Aug. 31 deadline for ordering new transport refrigeration units, known commonly as reefers, and engines, if you want to qualify for an extension.

The TRU regulation allows compliance extensions if delivery or installation is delayed, but in order to qualify, extensions must be registered in CARB’s equipment registration system, known as AMBER, and purchase orders must be placed early enough to take into account delivery, installation, holiday, and year-end lead times, according to the agency.

The purchase order deadlines are:

• For TRU engine replacements and unit replacements: by the end of August, four months ahead of the compliance deadline.

• For verified diesel particulate filter retrofits: by the end of October, two months ahead of the compliance deadline.

CARB says for model year 2007 engines/units, owners must make a good-faith effort to comply by the end of 2014. If in-use compliance cannot be achieved by Dec. 31, due to delays in delivery or installation, reefer owners may apply for a compliance extension. The compliance extension application, with attached supporting documentation, must be received at CARB by Dec. 31.

All model year 2006 and older TRU engines or units manufactured in 2006 or earlier should be in compliance now. CARB notes that trailer manufacture year and in-service dates are not used to determine TRU compliance dates while noncompliant model year 2006 and older TRU engines/units must not be operated in California.

Compliance with the TRU regulation’s in-use performance standards is required before model year 2006 and older engines/units can legally operate in California.

For general information about the TRU regulation, visit CARB's TRU website.

If you have questions about in-use performance standard compliance, registration in ARBER, or in-use compliance extensions, you can call TRU Help Line at 1-888-878-2826 or 1-916-327-8737, or send an email to arber@arb.ca.gov.