California: Heavy-duty: GHG

Overview

 * Standard type: Greenhouse gas emission limits
 * Regulating body: California Air Resources Board (CARB) within the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA)
 * Current standard: CARB Heavy-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Regulation
 * Applicability: Heavy-duty tractors and 53 ft. or longer box-type semi-trailers that transport freight

History
In December 2008, the California Air Resources Board adopted the Heavy Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Regulation, a measure that requires long-haul truckers to install fuel efficient tires and aerodynamic devices on their trailers that lower greenhouse gas emissions and improve fuel economy.

The purpose of this regulation is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from heavy-duty (HD) tractors and 53 ft. or longer box-type semitrailers (trailers) that transport freight on highways within California. The regulation does not apply to: drop-frame trailers; chassis trailers; curtain-side trailers; livestock trailers; refuse trailers; box-type trailers less than 53 feet in length; emergency vehicles; and military tactical support vehicles.

Regulation
The regulation applies primarily to owners of 53 ft. or longer box-type trailers, including both dry-van and refrigerated-van trailers, and owners of the heavy-duty tractors that pull them on California highways. Owners are responsible for replacing or retrofitting their affected vehicles with compliant aerodynamic technologies and low rolling resistance tires. All owners must comply with the regulation when they operate their affected vehicles on California highways, regardless of where their vehicles are registered.

The tractors and trailers subject to this regulation must either use U.S. EPA SmartWay certified tractors and trailers, or be retrofitted with SmartWay verified technologies.

Tractors
The regulation was written such that beginning 1 January 2010, no 2011 or subsequent model year HD tractor, including sleeper-cabs tractors, pulling a 53-foot or longer box-type trailer would be allowed to operate on a highway within California unless such a tractor was a U.S. EPA SmartWay Certified Tractor. Additionally, as of 1 January 2013, no 2010 or previous model year HD tractor pulling a 53-foot or longer box-type trailer can operate on a highway within California unless such a tractor’s tires are U.S. EPA SmartWay Verified Technologies.

Trailers
As of 1 January 2010, no 2011 or subsequent model-year 53 ft. or longer dry-van trailer is allowed to travel on a highway within California unless such a trailer is either a U.S. EPA SmartWay Certified Trailer, or is equipped with both of the following: (1) tires that are U.S. EPA SmartWay Verified Technologies and (2) trailer aerodynamic technology-or combination of technologies as outlined in the regulation. The same applies to any refrigerated-van trailer. Similarly, as of 1 January 2013, any applicable 2010 or previous model year 53 ft. or longer dry-van trailer that is not participating in an optional trailer fleet compliance schedule must either be a U.S. EPA SmartWay Certified Trailer or must be equipped with a dry-van trailer aerodynamic technology or combination of technologies outlined in the regulation. Again, the same applies to any refrigerated-van trailer. By January 1, 2017, any non-exempt 2010 or previous model year 53 ft. or longer box-type trailer must be equipped with tires that are U.S. EPA SmartWay Verified Technologies. Further information on the optional trailer fleet compliance schedule, as well as specific requirements for Drivers and Owners can be found within the regulation.

Schedule
Fleet size refers to the total of all 53-foot or longer box-type trailers within the owner’s fleet, including those operating outside of California. Fleet owners with a trailer fleet size of 21 or more trailers could elect to participate in either one of two compliance schedule options. A large fleet owner who failed to register for one of these options must bring all trailers in the fleet into compliance. A fleet owner with a trailer fleet size of 20 or fewer trailers could elect to participate in either of the large fleet compliance schedule options or in the small fleet compliance schedule described below.

Regulatory Documents

 * Tractor-Trailer GHG Regulation


 * Emergency Regulatory Amendments to the Tractor-Trailer GHG Regulation

Additional government resources

 * Heavy-Duty (Tractor-Trailer) GHG Regulation Website


 * Tractor-Trailer GHG Regulation Fact Sheet


 * Large Fleet Compliance Fact Sheet


 * Small Fleet Compliance Fact Sheet


 * Official Press Release re: Heavy Duty Vehicle GHG Reduction