California: Heavy-duty: GHG

Overview

California’s Heavy-Duty Vehicle (Tractor-Trailer) GHG Emission Reduction Regulation requires heavy-duty tractors and trucks ≥ 53 ft to adopt fuel efficient tires and other devices that lower GHG emissions.

Phase 1 and Phase 2 GHG regulations were finalized in 2013 and 2018, respectively. These standards are almost completely harmonized with the U.S. Phase 1 and Phase 2 GHG standards.

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
California Phase 2 GHG Emissions Standards for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles and Engines

Applicability
Tractor Trailer: Heavy-duty tractors and box-type semi-trailers ≥ 53 ft that transport freight
Phase 1 and Phase 2: All on-road vehicles with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) rating ≥ 8,500 lbs.

Contents

Categories

California Heavy-duty vehicles Efficiency and GHG standards

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 box-type semitrailers (trailers) ≥ 53 ft 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 < 53 ft in length, emergency vehicles, and military tactical support vehicles.

Technical standards

Regulation

The regulation applies primarily to owners of box-type trailers ≥ 53 ft, 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 vehicles with compliant aerodynamic technologies and low-rolling resistance tires. All owners must comply with the regulation when they operate vehicles on California highways, regardless of where their vehicles are registered.¹

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 in 2010, no 2011 or subsequent model year HD tractor, including sleeper-cabs tractors, pulling a box-type trailer ≥ 53 ft 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 2013, regulations no longer allowed 2010 or previous model year HD tractors pulling a 53 ft or longer box-type trailer to operate on a highway within California unless the tractor’s tires were U.S. EPA SmartWay Verified Technologies.

Trailers

As of 2010, no 2011 or su bsequent model-year dry-van trailer ≥ 53 ft 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 2013, any applicable 2010 or previous model year dry-van trailer ≥ 53 ft 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. The same applies to any refrigerated-van trailer. As of 2017, any non-exempt 2010 or previous model year box-type trailer ≥ 53 ft 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 box-type trailers ≥ 53 ft within the owner’s fleet, including those operating outside of California. Fleet owners with trailer fleets 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 the entire fleet into compliance. A fleet owner with trailer fleets of less than 21 trailers could elect to participate in either of the large fleet compliance schedule options or in the small fleet compliance schedule, both of which are described below.

Option 1

**Table 1: Minimum fleet conformance thresholds for the large fleet compliance schedule (option 1)^a**
Compliance year	Minimum fleet conformance threshold	Deadline
2010	5%	1 Jan 2011
2011	15%	1 Jan 2012
2012	30%	1 Jan 2013
2013	50%	1 Jan 2014
2014	75%	1 Jan 2015
2015	100%	1 Jan 2016
Notes: ^aA trailer owner participating in Option 1 of this large fleet compliance schedule option must ensure that the percentage of compliant trailers on the compliance plan base list is equal to or greater than the applicable percentage.

Option 2

**Table 1: Minimum fleet conformance thresholds for the large fleet compliance schedule (option 2)^a**
Compliance year	Minimum fleet conformance threshold	Deadline
2010	–	–
2011	20%	1 Jan 2012
2012	40%	1 Jan 2013
2013	60%	1 Jan 2014
2014	80%	1 Jan 2015
2015	100%	1 Jan 2016
Notes: ^a A trailer owner participating in Option 2 of this large fleet compliance schedule option must ensure that the percentage of compliant trailers on the compliance plan base list is equal to or greater than the applicable percentage.

Small fleet

**Table 3: Minimum fleet conformance thresholds for the small fleet compliance schedule^a**
Compliance Year	Minimum Fleet Conformance Threshold	Deadline
2013	25%	1 Jan 2014
2014	50%	1 Jan 2015
2015	75%	1 Jan 2016
2016	100%	1 Jan 2017
Notes: ^aA trailer owner participating in the small fleet compliance schedule option must ensure that the percentage of compliant trailers on the compliance plan base list is equal to or greater than the applicable percentage.

PHASE 1 AND PHASE 2

The California Phase 1 and Phase 2 GHG standards are largely harmonized with the federal Phase 1 and Phase 2 standards with few minor differences for California. In California, CARB has been given the authority to certify engines and vehicles and to enforce Phase 2 rules. Additionally, California’s averaging, banking, and trading credit system includes credit multipliers for zero-emission vehicles to encourage their adoption.