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newsrel -- FAQs for Greenhouse gas emissions reduction regulation (SmartWay)
Posted: 05 May 2010 09:28:28
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about the Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Regulation. NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 5, 2010 CONTACTS: Mary Fricke (916) 322-2990 Karen Caesar (626)575-6728 www.arb.ca.gov California Truckin’ News Greenhouse gas emissions reduction regulation (SmartWay) Frequently Asked Questions If you have noticed the sleek, modern appearance of big-rig tractors and trailers traveling down the highway lately, you are not imagining things. These new big-rig tractors and trailers have side skirting on the undercarriage and tires that provide less air resistance and promote a smoother, more fuel-efficient ride. California adopted its heavy duty diesel greenhouse gas emissions reduction regulation in December 2008. Its goal is to improve fuel economy and lower greenhouse gas emissions from long-haul trucks, hence their new, streamlined appearance. The Air Resources Board estimates the regulation will save truckers about $8.6 billion, as well as 750 million gallons of diesel fuel in California and 5 billion gallons of diesel fuel nationwide between the years 2010 and 2020. Individual fleet owners can expect an annual fuel savings of $3,250 to $4,060 per tractor-trailer combination that will take an estimated 1 to 2.3 years to pay for itself, making the purchase extremely cost effective. The regulation utilizes elements of the US EPA’s “SmartWay” program, which calls for environmentally cleaner, more fuel efficient transportation options to be made available to the trucking industry. ARB has collected the most commonly asked questions and answers about this new technology and regulation below. Who needs to comply with the regulation? The regulation applies to all owners of 53-foot or longer box-type trailers, including both dry-van and refrigerated-van trailers, and the owners of heavy-duty tractors that pull them on California highways. Besides the owners of these vehicles, drivers, motor carriers, California-based brokers and California-based shippers may also be held responsible for compliance with the regulation. Do I still need to comply with the regulation if my vehicle is registered outside of California? All owners, regardless of where their vehicles are registered, must meet the requirements of the regulation when they drive their vehicles on California highways. Besides the owners of these vehicles, drivers, motor carriers, California-based brokers and California-based shippers may also be held responsible for meeting the requirements of the regulation. What equipment will meet the requirements of the regulation? Tractor owners: Owners of 2010 or older tractors are responsible for replacing or retrofitting their tractors with compliant U.S. EPA SmartWay Program (SmartWay) low rolling resistance tires. For 2011 or newer tractors must be purchased SmartWay certified. Trailer owners: Trailer owners are responsible for replacing or retrofitting their trailers with compliant U.S. EPA SmartWay Program (SmartWay) aerodynamic technologies and low rolling resistance tires. Some examples of these technologies are: • Trailer rear fairings; • Trailer front gap fairings; • Trailer side skirts For a detailed listing of SmartWay approved low rolling resistance tires and aerodynamic technologies go to http://www.epa.gov/smartway/transport/what-smartway/verified-technologies.htm Is there financial assistance available to help purchase this equipment? Yes. ARB’s Heavy-Duty Vehicle Air Quality Loan Program may be able to provide assistance to comply with the regulation. More information is available at: www.arb.ca.gov/ba/loan/on-road/on-road.htm Also, the SmartWay program offers financial assistance information through the SmartWay Finance Center which is available at: http://www.smartwayfinancecenter.com/ What is the difference between the trailer requirements for small and large fleets and what are the large and small fleet compliance provisions? A small fleet is defined as a fleet with 20 or less trailers while a large fleet is defined as having more than 21 trailers. Small fleets need to register all 20 or less trailers in their fleet in order to qualify for the small fleet provision while large fleets only need to register their California bound trailers to qualify for the large fleet provision. The small fleet provision is a phase-in schedule between the years of 2014 to 2017 in which the total percentage of trailers must meet the requirements of the regulation. (See table below*) In order for small fleets to take advantage of this provision, they must submit a Small Fleet Compliance Plan by July 1, 2012. The large fleet provision is a phase-in schedule between the years of 2010 and 2016 in which registration is required for only California bound trailers. (See table below*) In order to take advantage of this compliance option, large fleets must submit a Large Fleet Compliance Plan by July 1, 2010. Both of the small and large fleet provisions apply to 2010 and older box-type trailers that travel in California. Small Fleet Compliance Schedule Must comply before January 1 of: 2014 2015 2016 2017 % of Trailer Fleet That Must Comply 25% 50% 75% 100% Large Fleet Compliance Schedule Must comply before January 1 of: That Must 1 of: 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 % of Trailer Fleet That Must Comply 5% 15% 30% 50% 75% 100% What are the requirements of the regulation and when must I comply? The model year of the vehicle, the requirement(s ) and deadlines to comply are listed in the tables below: For tractors: Model year Requirement(s) Deadline • 2011 and newer sleeper-cab tractors Sleeper-cab tractors that pull trailers must be SmartWay certified Beginning January 1, 2010 • 2011 and newer day-cab tractors Day-cab tractors that pull affected trailers must use SmartWay verified low rolling resistance tires Beginning January 1, 2010 • All pre-2011 tractors that pull affected trailers Affected trailers must use SmartWay verified low rolling resistance tires Beginning January 1, 2012 For trailers: Model year Requirement(s) Deadline • 2011 and newer 53-foot or longer box-type trailers Trailers must be either SmartWay certified or retrofitted with SmartWay verified technologies that meet 5% fuel efficiency for dry vans and a 4% fuel efficiency improvement for a refrigerated van and low rolling resistance tires Beginning January 1, 2010 • Pre-2011 53-foot or longer box-type trailers (with the exception of certain 2003 to 2008 refrigerated-van trailers) Box-type trailers must meet the same requirements as 2011 and newer trailers • By January 1, 2013 or • Owners can phase-in compliance of their fleet over a period of time but must register by: July 1, 2010 for large fleets and; July 1, 2012 for small fleets • 2003 to 2008 refrigerated-van trailers equipped with 2003 or subsequent transport refrigeration units or TRUs Meet the same requirements as 2011 and newer trailers • Between the years of 2017 and 2019 What types of equipment do not have to comply with this regulation? • Curtain side vans; • Military tactical vehicles; • Solid waste vehicles; • Authorized emergency vehicles; • Container chassis; • Drayage tractors and trailers that operate within a 100 mile radius of a port or intermodal rail yard; and, • Drop frame vans. Are there any special exceptions to this regulation? Yes. Short-haul tractors that drive less than 50,000 miles per year are exempt from the regulation. Local-haul tractors and trailers that operate within a 100 mile radius from a home base are exempt from the aerodynamics requirements, but not from the tire requirements. Short-haul tractors, local-haul tractors and trailers need to be registered with ARB in order to obtain this exemption. Further information about the specific technologies that have been certified or verified by the SmartWay program can be found by contacting : SmartWay Partnership Program SmartWay Call Center: (734) 214-4767 Address: 2000 Traverwood Ann Arbor, MI 48105 Email: smartway_transport@epa.gov Web: www.epa.gov/smartway/ Are there going to be any additional changes or modifications made to the regulation? Yes. ARB will be recommending regulatory modifications to the Board in fall of 2010. These recommendations include providing an additional phase-in option for large fleets, allowing them additional time to register and report their activity; to allow fleets to report compliance activity on an annual basis; and the creation of a new exemption for storage trailers. In addition, other minor modifications to the regulation will also be proposed. Where can I learn more? A summary of the regulation is available on the ARB website at www.arb.ca.gov/cc/hdghg/hdghg.htm and at the ARB Truck Stop website at www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/truckstop/trailers/trailers.php Further help with the regulation is also available by calling ARB’s diesel hotline at (866) 6DIESEL (634-3735) or by email at 866DIESEL@arb.ca.gov. ### Columnist, Tony Brasil is the manager of ARB’s Heavy Duty Diesel Implementation Branch. While he cannot answer every question, he will select several to answer each month. To contact Tony, please email CATruckinQandA@ARB.ca.gov