SACRAMENTO - The Air Resources Board is reminding California-bound truck owners that the deadline to report information regarding their fleets has been extended to March 30, 2012.

ARB provided a two-month extension from the original January 31, 2012, reporting deadline to give fleet owners more time to submit their information before widespread enforcement of the regulation begins.

“We encourage all business owners to act immediately and contact us now with any questions.  Waiting until the last minute – or even a few days before the deadline – should be avoided since our information hotlines are already extremely busy,” said Tony Brasil, Chief of the Heavy Duty Diesel Implementation Branch.  Truck owners can report their fleet information online by visiting www.arb.ca.gov/truckstop.

The March 30 deadline does not extend to particulate matter (PM) filter and other compliance requirements that began January 1, 2012.
 
The Truck and Bus Regulation provides flexibility for owners of heavier trucks and buses (those with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating greater than 26,000 lbs.) with several options to reduce diesel emissions. They can:

1.  Follow a schedule that requires 1996-1999 model year engines be retrofitted with a diesel PM filter by January 1, 2012, with truck replacements starting January 1, 2015 for older trucks (this option has no reporting requirements).
2. Delay installing a particulate filter on 1996-1999 trucks that have a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of more than 26,000 lbs. if they own a small fleet.  A small fleet is one that has 1 – 3 vehicles with a GVWR of more than 14,000 lbs.  (Truck owners must report to take advantage of this option.)
3. Take advantage of other flexible compliance options in the regulation for vehicles with a GVWR of more than 26,000 lbs.  (Truck owners must also report to utilize these options.)

To expedite the reporting process or get information about the Truck and Bus Regulation, truck owners can:

• Visit ARB’s Truck Stop at www.arb.ca.gov/truckstop
• Call the Diesel Hotline at 866 6 DIESEL (866- 634-3735)
• Get the latest on reporting information and updates:  Reporting Requirements
• Email 8666DIESEL@arb.ca.gov

ARB will enforce the truck and bus regulation throughout the state, including at California Highway Patrol weigh stations, distribution centers, fleet facilities, truck stops and other random locations where trucks and buses are present.  Vehicles that are in violation will be issued citations that carry penalties, including the potential impoundment of a non-compliant vehicle. However, ARB will use discretion in enforcing the regulation in order to account for mitigating circumstances (including documented good-faith efforts to comply).

The truck and bus regulation will significantly reduce emissions from the nearly one million heavy-duty diesel trucks that operate in California. The regulation is one of several emission control measures that aggressively target diesel pollution, which is associated with a host of health ailments including cancer. Diesel particulate filters remove at least 85 percent of the fine particle pollution found in diesel exhaust.