Heavy-Duty (Tractor-Trailer) Greenhouse Gas Regulation
This page last reviewed July 14, 2017
Heavy-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Regulation
Background:
The California Air Resources Board (ARB) in December 2008 adopted a new regulation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by improving the fuel efficiency of heavy-duty tractors that pull 53-foot or longer box-type trailers. Fuel efficiency is improved through improvements in tractor and trailer aerodynamics and the use of low rolling resistance tires.
The regulation is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 0.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalents by 2020, statewide. Over the 11 years between 2010, when the rule went into effect, and the end of 2020, it is estimated that truckers and trucking companies will save about $5.1 billion when diesel fuel consumption is reduced by as much as 500 million gallons in California and 3.3 billion gallons across the nation.
The tractors and trailers subject to this regulation must use U.S. Environmental Protection Agency SmartWaySM certified tractors and trailers, or retrofit their existing fleet with SmartWay verified technologies. For further information, please call 866-6DIESEL (866-634-3735) or email at: 8666diesel@arb.ca.gov. Financial assistance is available through an ARB loan program and the Federal SmartWay Finance Program . More information can also be found at the federally-funded Diesel Emissions Reduction National Program (DERA).
Related Links
- ARB's Climate Change Program
- Truck and Bus Regulation -- On-Road Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles (In-Use)
- Financial Assistance for California Trucks - Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions
- Heavy-Duty Vehicle Air Quality Loan Program
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's SmartWaySM Program
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Program for Motor Vehicles
What's New
- On July 19, 2017, staff will conduct a public workshop to discuss potential changes to California's existing TTGHG regulation that may include more stringent emission reduction requirements on 53-feet or longer box-type trailers and new emission reduction requirements on all other types of trailers (e.g., box-type less than 53 feet long, tankers, container chassis, and flat beds). The workshop notice is now available. (Posted July 14, 2017)
- SmartWay Verified and Designated Technologies Links Added to This Website (Posted October 7, 2013)
New links to SmartWay verified and designated technologies have been added to this website, including tractors, trailers, trailer aerodynamic technologies, and low rolling resistance tires. The new trailer aerodynamic technologies page provides direct links to individual product manufacturers so you can find out more information about these products. - Storage Trailer Exemptions Fact Sheet Now Available (Posted May 22, 2013)
A fact sheet providing storage trailer exemption information for the Tractor-Trailer GHG regulation is now available. - Compliance Tool for Truck Drivers and Shippers Now Available Online (Posted May, 21, 2013)
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has developed a compliance tool to help truck drivers and freight shippers determine whether individual 53-foot box trailers can be legally operated in California based on whether they have been registered with CARB for an extension or an exemption to the requirements of the Tractor-Trailer Greenhouse Gas Regulation. The compliance tool can be accessed from any internet-enabled device (computers, mobile phones, tablets, etc.). The link for the compliance tool is arb.ca.gov/ghgcheck. - Workshop presentation for the proposed modification to the TTGHG regulation (Posted March 7, 2013)
Staff is proposing amendements to the Tractor-Trailer GHG regulation to align some of the tractor requirements with the US EPA Heavy-Duty GHG Regulation - Phase 1. Workshop presentation - Clarification
of Low Rolling Resistance Tire Requirements: Open Shoulder Drive Tires
and Retreaded Tires (Posted December 11, 2012)
The California Air Resources Board has issued Advisory MSC 12-26 to explain how the low rolling resistance tire requirements of the regulation will be implemented for: (1) tractors that use 2 or more open shoulder drive tires and (2) 2011 and newer model year tractors and trailers that use retreaded tires. - Implementation Guidance for Modifying Trailer Aerodynamic Technologies (Posted October 25, 2012)
The California Air Resources Board has posted on its website the following document: Implementation Guidance for the Tractor-Trailer GHG Regulation 1) List of Pre-Approved Modifications to SmartWay Verified Aerodynamic Equipment for Trailers, and 2) Requirements for Obtaining California Air Resources Board Approval for Modifications (Wind Tunnel Test Procedure). - SmartWay Verified Low Rolling Resistance Tires: Archived Tire List (Posted October 4, 2012)
The California Air Resources Board has posted on its website a list of SmartWay Low Rolling Resistance tire models that are no longer verified, but can still be used in meeting the LRR tire requirements of the Tractor-Trailer Greenhouse Gas Regulation. - Clarification of Low Rolling Resistance Tire Requirements for 2010 and Older Tractors (Posted October 2, 2012)
The California Air Resources Board has issued Advisory MSC 12-19 to explain how the low rolling resistance tire requirements for 2010 and older model year tractors will be implemented. Affected tractors must use SmartWay verified tires (new or retread) by January 1, 2013. However, if a non-compliant tire was manufactured or retreaded (as determined by the U.S. Department of Transportation “DOT” date stamp on the sidewall) before January 1, 2013, the tractor may continue using it until the end of its useful tread life, or until January 1, 2015, whichever comes first. After January 1, 2015, all tires on affected tractors must be SmartWay verified, regardless of when they were manufactured.