CARB Seeks to Amend GHG Regulations to Cover More Trailers

The California Air Resources Board (CARB), as part of the phase-2 implementation plan of the of their Tractor-Trailer Greenhouse Gas Regulation, is amending those regulations to include 50-foot or longer trailers from the current regulated 53-foot trailers.

The regulation currently applies to 53-foot or longer box-type trailers, including both dry-van and refrigerated-van trailers, and all heavy-duty tractors that pull them on California highways. The tractors and trailers subject to this regulation must either use U.S. EPA SmartWay certified tractors and trailers, or retrofit their existing fleet with SmartWay verified technologies. All owners, regardless of where their vehicles are registered, must comply with the regulation when operating on California highways and roads.

Besides the owners of these vehicles, drivers, motor carriers, California-based brokers and California-based shippers that operate or use them also share in the responsibility for compliance with the regulation. This includes brokerage companies that have a remote office or sales agent located in California. One or all of these parties may be held accountable for operating or using non-compliant vehicles on California highways.

The following tractors and trailers are exempt from any requirements:

• *Short-Haul Tractor/Trailer (less than 50,000 miles annually)

      o Trailer being hauled by a compliant tractor

• *Local-Haul Tractor (travels within 100 miles of the local-haul base or 2011 or 2010 model year (MY))
• *Local-Haul Trailer (2011 MY)
• *Drayage Tractor-Trailer Exemption (within 100 miles of the port)
• *Relocation Pass for Trailers
• *Transfer of Ownership Pass for Trailers
• Drop-frame trailers
• Chassis trailers
• Curtain-side trailers
• Livestock trailers
• Refuse trailers
• Box-type trailers less than 50 feet in length
• Emergency vehicles
• Military tactical support vehicles

*Denotes new exemption

TIA’s Environmental and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee will review the amended changes and take the necessary actions.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Chris Burroughs at burroughs@tianet.org or (703) 299-5705.