truck fleet

How the Bus and Truck Regulation Affects Your Fleet (Part II of II)

In our previous post we discussed how the Bus and Truck Regulation enacted in 2012, would affect moving fleets and some of the terms and conditions of how to prepare your fleets based on the regulation. In the final part of this series we will be discussing credits and exemptions, as well as additional requirements for the latest change.

Fleets who opt to use the phase-in option are able to take advantage of certain credits that may in turn be available to delay particular set requirements for the heavier trucks in their fleet, until 2017. These advantages include: PM filters that were installed prior to July 2011, an early purchase of clean engines prior to 2012 which were originally equipped with PM filters, reducing the number of trucks since 2006, and adding fuel efficient hybrids or alternative-fueled engines to their fleet. While any fleet can equip their vehicles with a PM filter before 2014 compliant until 2020. They can additionally make heavier vehicles in their fleet exempt from meeting replacement regulations until 2023, providing the trucks are equipped with PM filters before 2014. Vehicles that are reported within the compliance year that have less than 1000 miles per year reported may also be exempt.

As lighter trucks (weighing between 14,001 and 26,000 lbs.) have a different set of regulations that would not require compliance until 2015, the following chart shows the schedule for Engine Model Year for lighter trucks:

 

Engine Year

Replacement Date

1995 (and older) January 1st, 2015
1996 January 1st, 2016
1997 January 1st, 2017
1998 January 1st, 2018
1999 January 1st, 2019
2003 (and older) January 1st, 2020
2004-2006 January 1st, 2021
2007-2009 January 1st, 2023

 

Beginning on January 1st, 2020, any remaining vehicles must be replaced so they all have 2010 model year engines, or equivalent emissions by 2023, with no reporting required. Fleets additionally will have the option to install retrofit on lighter trucks by 2024 thus making them exempt from replacement until January 1st, 2020. Any light trucks that are equipped with a PM retrofit filter that was installed before July of 2011, will receive credit towards their compliance requirements for heavier trucks within the same fleet.

Special provisions for these new regulations may delay some (if not all) of certain compliance specifications, however fleets must report before being able to take advantage of them. As of April 29th, 2011, fleets must have reported in order to qualify for lower-use exceptions until 2017 or 2023. Fleets would also have to have reported as of January 1st, 2012, to take advantage of delays until 2014, for smaller fleets of 1-3 vehicles, and vehicles that operate in states with lower air pollution.

If you are planning to sell one of your fleet vehicles, you must report these new regulations to the potential buyer(s), as well as providing them with a specific disclosure statement in writing on the bill of sale, sales, contract addendum or invoice. Be sure to review http://www.arb.ca.gov/enf/advs/advs416.pdf, before the sale is finalized.

Additional information, as well as fact sheets, regarding these new regulations can be found at: http://www.arb.ca.gov/dieseltruck or by calling (866) 6DIESEL (866.634.3735).