As of 2024, California has introduced a critical new regulation aimed at improving air quality and reducing emissions from heavy-duty trucks: the Clean Truck Check, also known as the Heavy Duty Inspection and Maintenance (HD I/M) regulation.

If you operate, dispatch, or broker trucks in or out of California, this law affects you.

What is the Clean Truck Check?

The Clean Truck Check (CTC) is a California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulation that mandates emissions inspections for diesel vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 14,000 pounds or more.

The law applies to all heavy-duty vehicles operating in California, whether or not they are registered in the state. This means that truckers, carriers, freight brokers and dispatchers nationwide must comply if they’re trucks are running in California.

Who Needs To Comply?

1. Carriers and owners that operate diesel trucks with a GVWR of 14,000+ pounds

2. Freight brokers, freight dispatchers working with trucks operating in California

3. Freight facilities, including seaports and railyards

Freight brokers and freight dispatchers, which appear to fall under CARB's definition of freight contractors, are also subject to Clean Truck Check (HD I/M) regulations.

These regulations require that brokers and dispatchers confirm and document that the vehicles they are contracting with and arranging loads for meet the Clean Truck Check compliance standards, as identified by their Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs).

Compliance is not based on the vehicle’s license plate, entity name, or location but strictly on the VIN, as these details may change over time. The VIN uniquely ties the vehicle to the Clean Truck Check’s CTC-VIS Portal for reporting, fee payment, and testing requirements.

Freight dispatchers and brokers must verify that each vehicle has an individual Clean Truck Check compliance certificate or that the carrier holds a fleetwide compliance certificate, affirming that the entire fleet is compliant.

Before dispatching or contracting any vehicle within California, brokers must confirm this compliance to avoid penalties. They are required to maintain records of these certificates as part of their compliance responsibilities.

Ultimately, both freight brokers and dispatchers must strictly follow these guidelines, only contracting or dispatching vehicles that comply with Clean Truck Check regulations, and maintain accurate records to avoid any regulatory issues.

How Carriers and Owners Comply with Clean Truck Check regulations

Step One: Vehicle Registration (Deadline: October 1, 2024)

1. Create an account on the CTC-VIS website https://cleantruckcheck.arb.ca.gov

2. Add vehicle(s) to the system

3. Pay the required $30 fee per vehicle

While this process can seem overwhelming, at Clean Truck Check PRO we offer FREE assistance with setting up CTC-VIS accounts and adding vehicles.

Step 2: Clean Truck Check Testing (Deadline: January 1, 2025)

There are two types of tests, depending on the model year of the truck:

For 2013 and newer vehicles: An On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) test is required. This is an emissions system test, that confirms all emission control devices are functioning correctly, and that a Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) hasn’t been reset without making the necessary repairs.

For 2012 and older vehicles: A Smoke Test is needed to check for visible exhaust emissions, as well as a visual inspection of the emission control devices.
The Testing window opens 90 days before the deadline to allow for any necessary repairs. If a truck fails the initial test, it will need repairs and must be driven a specified number of warm-up cycles, miles, or hours before retesting to ensure the system is ready.

Why Is Compliance Important?

Non-compliance with the Clean Truck Check regulation can result in hefty fines and even lead to a vehicle being prohibited from operating in California.

This program is part of California's larger effort to improve air quality by reducing harmful emissions from heavy-duty diesel vehicles.

Get Help with Your Clean Truck Check Compliance

If you're a carrier, owner/operator, freight dispatcher or freight broker involved with California's logistics industry, I’m here to help make the compliance process easier. With my expertise in HD I/M testing, I can assist you and your clients from the CTC-VIS registration phase to completing Clean Truck Check inspections.

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions, or to schedule a test. Freight brokers and dispatchers can also check out record keeping requirements on the California Air Resources Board's official web page: https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/documents/clean-truck-check-heavy-duty-inspection-and-maintenance-hd-im-regulation.