California Delays Part of CTC Program Again
ICSA has done its best to keep members informed about California’s Clean Truck Check (CTC) Program so that they don’t get ticketed and fined. However, just a day after we had presented an update in the Regulatory Roundup bulletin, the California Air Resources Board announced that it would again delay the first periodic testing deadline for The CTC to January 1, 2025. However, this delays only the smog check requirement and not the truck registration mandate.
Carriers must still comply by registering their trucks with CARB and paying the annual $30 per truck fee. If your power units are registered and titled in California, the DMV will place a hold on your truck registration renewal(s) if you haven’t registered your trucks with CARB.
The CTC is comprised of three phases. The first kicked off in January 2024 with the use of remote smog monitoring technologies. The second phase, in effect since Feb. 1, requires all eligible vehicle owners to register with CARB’s CTC database and pay an annual $30 compliance fee per vehicle. The third phase, which was originally planned to take effect this summer but is currently delayed to 2025, requires owners of heavy trucks to undergo periodic smog testing similar to California’s passenger car Smog Check program.
For truckers, testing for marijuana continues. Just as with testing for cocaine, amphetamines, PCP, and opioids, testing for marijuana will continue to be conducted on a pre-employment, random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, and return-to-duty basis.
As temperatures rise, so do the risks associated with tires, brakes, and overall vehicle condition. Summer heat doesn’t just stress drivers, it amplifies mechanical weaknesses, making maintenance and inspections more important than ever.
The 2026 road construction season is going to be one of the largest in U.S. history and anyone using the roads should be prepared for what’s coming.