California Air Resources Board

 Overview

The purpose of this guidance is to provide vehicle owners with updated timing information on future reporting and periodic testing requirements within the Clean Truck Check. Key events and estimated implementation dates are:

• CARB plans to implement a three-month open reporting season projected to run from October 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023.
  • By December 31, 2023, vehicle owners would need to complete registration of their vehicles in the Clean Truck Check database and pay their $30.00 per vehicle 2023 annual compliance fees.
• CARB estimates that periodic testing requirements will become effective starting in July 2024. This means that a passing compliance test would be required to be submitted to CARB for all vehicle compliance deadlines on or after July 1, 2024.
• Figure I below illustrates the existing 2023 requirements and the projected phase in timing of the upcoming Clean Truck Check requirements. 

 Figure I

Background and Projected Phase-in Timing

The Clean Truck Check, formerly known as the Heavy-Duty Inspection and Maintenance (HD I/M) regulation, subjects nearly all non-gasoline vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) over 14,000 pounds that operate in California to periodic emissions testing. Analogous to California’s Smog Check program for light-duty vehicles, these testing requirements help ensure that heavy-duty vehicles operating in California remain equipped with properly functioning emissions controls, and when malfunctioning, that these systems get repaired in a timely manner. Through the repair of malfunctioning emissions control systems, the Clean Truck Check will substantially reduce toxic particulate matter (PM, known as soot) and emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx, a contributor to smog formation) from the heavy-duty vehicle sector to reduce air pollution and to improve public health across the state, especially in communities disproportionally impacted by heavy-duty truck activity.

The Clean Truck Check is being implemented through a multi-phased approach with each phase building on the efforts of the previous. In January 2023, the program launched with deployments of roadside emissions monitoring equipment to screen for vehicles operating with potentially high emissions. Vehicles identified as potential high emitters receive a Notice to Submit to Testing (NST) and are required to submit a passing compliance test to CARB within 30 days of receipt of the notice.

Moving forward in the coming year, CARB will begin implementing the next phases of the program, including reporting and compliance fee payments, as well as periodic testing requirements. Staff currently projects a deadline of December 31, 2023, for vehicle owners to meet initial reporting requirements and to pay 2023 annual vehicle compliance fees. An open reporting season is planned from October 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023, to allow owners to report within the Clean Truck Check database system. Following this, periodic vehicle compliance testing is projected to begin in July 2024. The high-emitter vehicle screening efforts that began in January 2023 will remain in effect as these additional program phases are implemented. 

The information in this guidance is intended to assist vehicle owners in their planning efforts as these new compliance requirements near. As the year moves forward, CARB will release more detailed information and conduct training sessions to support vehicle owners and other regulated entities in meeting upcoming compliance requirements.

CARB's Clean Truck Check webpage[1] also provides further information on upcoming compliance requirements for vehicle owners and other entities subject to the program.

Reporting Requirements and Compliance Fee Payments

Vehicle Reporting: Vehicle owners would be required to complete reporting on their applicable vehicles by the end of 2023. Open reporting season is expected to begin in October 2023 to provide vehicle owners with approximately three months to establish accounts within the Clean Truck Check database system and to input the required vehicle information. Upon registration, vehicle owners would be required to input company/fleet information such as entity name, company contact information, and United States Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) number. Additionally, vehicle owners would be required to designate ownership of vehicles within their fleet by vehicle identification number (VIN). To the extent possible, the database system design will minimize the need to manually input additional vehicle data parameters and will gather vehicle information such as make, model, fuel type, etc. from other sources.

Prior to open reporting season, CARB plans to release supplemental guidance further detailing out the reporting procedures and the required company and vehicle parameters that need to be reported. Further, CARB also plans to offer training webinars and instructional videos to demonstrate how to use the database system and to further guide owners through the reporting process.

Compliance Fee Payments: Vehicle owners would be required to pay their 2023 annual vehicle compliance fees, assessed on a per vehicle basis, during the open reporting season expected to start in October. The $30.00 per vehicle compliance fee would be payable directly through the database system using traditional payment methods such as major credit cards, debit cards, and electronic fund transfers.

Following completion of the reporting and compliance fee payments, vehicle owners would have access to a vehicle’s compliance certificate through the database system, which would serve as proof the vehicle has met the requirements of Clean Truck Check. To legally operate in California starting in January 2024, a vehicle would be required to meet the reporting and compliance fee payment requirements described above.

2024 Periodic Testing Requirements

CARB expects the periodic vehicle testing requirements would become effective in July 2024. This requirement means that a passing compliance test would need to be submitted to CARB within 90 days prior to a vehicle’s compliance deadline. For example, if a vehicle has a compliance deadline on July 1, 2024, a passing compliance test would need to be submitted between April 2, 2024, and July 1, 2024.

CARB plans to release additional information on periodic testing compliance deadlines and 2024 compliance fee payment schedules later this year. Based on the projected timing of the periodic testing requirements, most vehicles would be required to undergo one periodic compliance test in 2024. Starting in calendar year 2025, most vehicles would then be subject to the standard twice per year periodic testing requirements.

Additional Information

• For more information on Clean Truck Check, please visit the Clean Truck Check homepage at: Clean Truck Check (HD I/M) | California Air Resources Board.
  • Clean Truck Check Facts Sheets and FAQs are available that provide further details on program requirements such as vehicle applicability, compliance testing requirements, and allowable testing equipment.
• To receive notification of future training webinars to learn how to use the Clean Truck Check database system and to receive other important Clean Truck Check updates, please subscribe here: California Air Resources Board (govdelivery.com). CARB staff plans to offer the database training webinars starting in October 2023.
• CARB’s existing Periodic Smoke Inspection Program[2] will be rescinded upon the effective date of Clean Truck Check‘s periodic vehicle testing requirements.
• If you have questions regarding information presented in this guidance document, please email Clean Truck Check staff at hdim@arb.ca.gov.

[1]Clean Truck Check (HD I/M) | California Air Resources Board

[2]https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/heavy-duty-diesel-inspection-periodic-smoke-inspection-program