Helping Keep Your Truck Inspected and Legit

Under the Clean Air Act, CARB is responsible for developing statewide programs and strategies to reduce smog-forming and toxic pollutants emitted from mobile sources with the Clean Truck Check. Heavy-duty diesel vehicles greater than 14,000 pounds are major contributors to California’s air quality challenges. These vehicles still contribute the majority of on-road NOx and PM 2.5 emissions, despite significant efforts by CARB over the last 40 years to reduce NOx and PM emissions from this sector. Previous efforts include regulations and programs for new engine standards, manufacturer warranties, and durability requirements for emission control components; in-use truck rules to accelerate fleet turnover; and incentive programs to promote innovative low- and zero-emitting technologies.

Modern heavy-duty diesel vehicles are equipped with after treatment systems like diesel particulate filters for controlling PM and selective catalytic reduction for cutting NOx emissions. However, when emissions control components malfunction, this may result in emissions increases that can stall efforts to achieve clean, healthy air in California’s communities. The Clean Truck Check will ensure heavy-duty vehicles operating in California are well-maintained and repaired rapidly when needed, and promote a level playing field for the businesses that operate them.

Through an integrated strategy combining roadside emissions monitoring to screen for potential high-emitting vehicles, improved emissions testing procedures using on-board diagnostics data, emissions checks and data reporting at required intervals, and compliance verification requirements for freight contractors, seaports, and railyards, the Clean Truck Check regulation is one of the most impactful regulations approved in recent CARB history. When fully implemented, the regulation is projected to cut statewide NOx emissions by over 81 tons per day and PM emissions by 0.7 tons per day in 2037. Together, these emissions reductions will result in over 7,500 avoided premature deaths.

Inspector Qualifications:
Inspectors Must Understand Part 393 and Appendix G – Motor carriers must ensure that persons performing annual inspections are qualified. Inspectors must understand the inspection standards of Part 393 and Appendix G and be able to identify defective components, and have knowledge and proficiency in methods, procedures, and tools.

Brake inspector qualification – The motor carrier is responsible for ensuring that all inspections, maintenance, repairs, and service to brakes of commercial motor vehicles comply with these regulations. The carrier must ensure that the employees responsible for brake inspection, maintenance, service, or repairs meet minimum brake inspector qualifications.

Qualifying Brake Training or Experience – Qualifying brake training or experience includes successful completion of a State, Canadian province, Federal agency, or union training program, a State-approved training program, training that led to attainment of a State or Canadian Province qualifying certificate to perform assigned brake service or inspection tasks, including passage of CDL air brake test in the case of a brake inspection, or one year of brake-related training, experience, or combination of both.

Maintaining Evidence of Brake Inspector Qualifications – Motor carriers must maintain evidence of brake inspector qualification at the principal place of business or the location where the inspector works. Evidence must be retained for the period during which the brake inspector is employed in that capacity, and for one year thereafter.
Last updated: Friday, July 12, 2019