CARB And EPA Crack Down On Heavy Truck Air Quality Standards

CARB Rule Violations

Recent news from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) reports that a number of transportation companies were found in violation of CARB’s Truck and Bus Rules. These violations resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in settlements, with funds being directed towards clean air projects in various areas throughout the state. Many of the recent violations include carriers running trucks in California without the required Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) systems.

You can find a list of all CARB regulations here and all CARB permits, certifications, exemptions and registrations here. You can also learn about CARB’s 2018 rule making activity here to make sure you stay up-to-date on regulations, therefore, avoiding costly penalties.

EPA & CARB Revisit NO_x Emissions Standard

Announced on November 13, 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began an environmental review to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions (NO_x) from heavy-duty truck engines.  According to EPA Acting Administrator, Andrew Wheeler, the goal of this project is to modernize and improve the efficiency of heavy-duty truck engines to provide cleaner air for U.S. citizens. The initiative will remove unnecessary steps to certifications and compliance standards, while also focusing on reducing NO_x emissions. The current reduction efforts by the EPA seek to lower NO_x emissions to 0.2 grams per brake horsepower/hour.

This announcement comes on the heels of CARB’s even stricter initiative to reduce NO_x emissions to 0.02 grams per brake horsepower/hour. According to Transport Topics News, EPA officials stated they would like to work with CARB to update overarching U.S. emissions requirements, but have received no communication compliance. In the EPA’s November 13^thpress conference, Lewie Pugh, Executive VP of OOIDA, stated that changes must consider cost and reliability of technology for the small business trucker.

The Take-Away

Emission standards in the trucking industry are constantly evolving. The EPA and state level organizations are consistently searching for ways to reduce emissions and improve air quality. It’s important to stay up-to-date on the current developments of these standards to avoid costly violations for your company.

If you have any questions about current standards, don’t hesitate to reach out to us to talk with one of our logistics experts.

BM2 Freight Services, Inc.

Phone: (859) 308-5100

Email: Sales@BM2Freight.com