California Proposes Zero-Emission Trucks; Cracks Down on Polluting Trucks 

If you are based or operating in California, ongoing actions of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) should be on your radar screen. CARB has proposed a mandate that would require fleets that are replacing trucks to purchase zero-emission trucks as replacements, beginning for some fleets as early as 2024. As an option, affected carriers could choose to convert from 10% to 50% of their California fleet to zero-emission trucks by 2031. Comments on this proposal are due to CARB by October 17, 2022. A public hearing October 27 will provide another opportunity to comment on CARB’s Advanced Clean Fleets regulation. 

Here is what CARB has in mind:

• The zero-emission truck regulation would apply to all fleets of 50 or more trucks or $50 million in annual revenue – whether based in California or not – so long as any one of those trucks operates in California.
• The proposed regulation would also apply to any sized drayage fleet operating at California ports or rail yards
• While there are alternative scenarios for light-duty vehicles, CARB has adopted a broad definition of commercial trucks: those with a gross vehicle weight rating of 8,500 lbs. or more.
• There are significant recordkeeping and reporting requirements, as well.

Just as the trucking industry is complex, so too is this proposed CARB regulation. Clearly, it would impact fleets with operations in other states and may provide an incentive for those states to adopt their own zero-emission policies or to retaliate against California-based fleets. Your comments, by October 17, can be sent to CARB through a California Trucking Association link. 

While the zero-emission mandate doesn’t hit every ICSA member, any truck operating in California after January 1, 2023 will be subject to CARB’s heavy-duty emissions inspection program. In 2023, roadside emissions monitoring devices will look for high-emitting heavy-duty trucks, regardless of their state of registration, and identified polluters will be required to undergo testing by certified technicians, who could require emission control repairs. By mid-2023, all trucks operating in California, regardless of their base state of registration, will be required to register with CARB and pay an annual $30 per vehicle fee. That database will be used by CARB to enforce a 2024 requirement that all fleets conduct semi-annual emissions testing and submit the results to CARB.

ICSA is working closely with American Trucking Associations to monitor and report on these requirements and will keep you updated as we enter 2023.