The California Air Resources Board says it has stepped up enforcement of its diesel truck regulations to ensure that only vehicles compliant with California's stringent anti-pollution laws travel across the U.S. border into the state.

All trucks transporting cargo originating from, or going to a regulated port or rail yard in the state must be compliant drayage trucks. Among other violations it is looking for at the border are “dray-offs”, when a compliant truck exchanges cargo with a noncompliant truck on or off port property.

“Starting last fall, CARB staff has been regularly visiting the border towns of Otay Mesa and Calexico to educate truckers and business owners in English and Spanish about how to comply with our regulations and what happens when you don’t,” said CARB Enforcement Chief Jim Ryden. "We have been working diligently to send a strong, consistent message that the benefits of compliance far outweigh the risks of ignoring or procrastinating when it comes to cleaning up your vehicles or participating in illegal dray-off."

Truckers may receive stiff penalties for participating in a dray-off. In addition, motor carriers and transport companies that dispatch trucks involved in dray-offs can face fines.

In 2012, CARB conducted 3,650 inspections on 1,938 trucks in Otay Mesa, Calexico, and Tecate to check compliance with a variety of rules including excessive idling, correct engine labeling, smoke emissions and tampering, and use of verified emissions reductions equipment for compliance with CARB regulations. A total of 261 citations were issued.

CARB is reminding the trucking industry that drayage trucks must be registered with the agency and be upgraded or replaced according to a specific timetable. The Truck and Bus regulation also requires heavy duty diesel trucks to be cleaned up. 

Information about how to comply can be found by visiting ARB’s informational Truck Stop website or view a Summary of Requirements for diesel truck and equipment owners.