Heavy-Duty Certification Program

This page last reviewed February 04, 2013


Background

Description: Semi-trailer end dump truck - a semi tractor with a cargo trailer which uses a hydraulic hoist to lift the front of the trailer in order to dump the contents out the back end. The Heavy-Duty Certification Program is responsible for the certification of new heavy-duty engines (HDE), and vehicles (HDV), including urban buses (UB).  This page provides a list of emission-related regulations, test procedures, Manufacturers Advisory Correspondences (MACs), Mailouts, and related documents applicable to these engines and vehicles, and is primarily for the interest and needs of manufacturers and others that are required to obtain certification from ARB. For public-oriented materials, please visit our On-Road Heavy-Duty Vehicle Program page.

Announcements New or Updated Item


January 24, 2013: The 'Sample Sensor Table', introduced at the Durability Demonstration Workshop for New Diesel Engines held on March 24, 2010, has been revised and the updated version ( XLS - 38K ) included in the Workshop / Meetings section.

September 7, 2012: The Hybrid Electric Vehicles regulations have been updated to include a link to the Heavy-Duty Hybrid Electric Vehicle Certification Procedure webpage which contains information concerning the current hybrid electric vehicle test procedures revision process.


Certification Overview

To be certified, a vehicle must demonstrate that its exhaust and (as applicable, depending on the specific vehicle category) evaporative emission control systems are durable and comply with the emission standards for the vehicle's useful life. This is done through durability and certification testing of the prototype certification vehicle(s). Compliance with on-board diagnostics, anti-tampering, fuel tank fill-pipe and openings, crankcase emissions, etc., as applicable, must be demonstrated also. An application for certification must be submitted to, and approved by, the Air Resources Board (ARB) (and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) concurrently).

Production vehicles must be identical in all material respects to those (of the certification vehicles) for which the certification was granted; all emissions-related production running changes and field fixes must be approved. Production vehicles must be properly labeled and their emission control systems are warranted for the specified duration. New and customer-owned production vehicles are subject to compliance testing (by either the manufacturers or ARB) and warranty repairs reporting by the manufacturers, either of which can result in remedial actions.

Certification is granted only to the manufacturer of the vehicles who controls the vehicle specifications to ensure compliance by all production vehicles.  Certification can be granted to an importer only if the importer demonstrates that it has control of the vehicle specifications. As an example, this demonstration can be effected by a contractual agreement between the vehicle manufacturer and importer giving the importer the sole authority to approve any changes to the production vehicles in the certified engine/evaporative family. Importers lacking this vehicle specifications control are subject to the direct-import (a.k.a. gray-market) vehicle certification.


Regulations, Test Procedures, and Policies

California's emission standards for heavy-duty engines and vehicles are contained in California Code of Regulations, Title 13, and the following test procedures, as incorporated by reference. Section numbers of selected topics are listed for your convenience when performing a search on the regulations web page.

Urban Bus:

13 CCR § 1956.1. Exhaust Emission Standards and Test Procedures - 1985 Through 2006 Model-Year Heavy-Duty Urban Bus Engines and Vehicles.

Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles:

13 CCR § 1956.8. Exhaust Emissions Standards and Test Procedures -1985 and Subsequent Model Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles.

Heavy-Duty Otto-Cycle Engines and Vehicles:

"California Exhaust Emission Standards and Test Procedures for 1987 through 2003 Model Heavy-Duty Otto-Cycle Engines and Vehicles", as amended on December 27, 2000 ( PDF -86K )

"California Exhaust Emission Standards and Test Procedures for 2004 and Subsequent Model Heavy-Duty Otto-Cycle Engines", as amended on October 17, 2007 (PDF - 103K )

Heavy-Duty Diesel Engines and Vehicles:

"California Exhaust Emission Standards and Test Procedures for 1985 through 2003 Model Heavy-Duty Diesel Engines and Vehicles", amended on December 12, 2002 ( PDF - 102K )

"California Exhaust Emission Standards and Test Procedures for 2004 and Subsequent Model Heavy-Duty Diesel Engines and Vehicles", as amended on October 12, 2011 ( PDF - 307K )

Medium-Duty Vehicles (incomplete or diesel of 8501-14000 pound GVWR certified under engine test procedure):

13 CCR §1961. Exhaust Emission Standards and Test Procedures - 2004 and Subsequent Model Passenger Cars, Light-Duty Trucks, and Medium-Duty Vehicles.

"California Exhaust Emission Standards and Test Procedures for 2001 and Subsequent Model Passenger Cars, Light-Duty Trucks, and Medium-Duty Vehicles", as amended on September 27, 2010 ( PDF - 609K )

Evaporative Emissions:

13 CCR §1976. Standards and Test Procedures for Motor Vehicle Fuel Evaporative Emissions.

"California Evaporative Emission Standards and Test Procedures for 2001 and Subsequent Model Motor Vehicles", as amended on September 27, 2010. ( PDF - 438K )

Emission Control Warranty:

13 CCR § 2035-2041, 2044.

Vehicle Emission Labeling:

13 CCR § 1965. Emission Control, Smog Index, and Environmental Performance Labels - 1979 and Subsequent Model-Year Motor Vehicles.

"California Motor Vehicle Emission Control and Smog Index Label Specifications for 1978 through 2003 Model Year Model Year Motorcycles, Light-, Medium-, and Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles.", as amended on September 5, 2003. ( PDF - 84K )

Fill Pipes and Openings for Vehicle Fuel Tanks:

13 CCR § 2235. Specifications for Fill Pipes and Openings of Motor Vehicle Fuel Tanks.

"Specifications for Fill Pipes and Openings of Motor Vehicle Fuel Tanks.", as amended on January 22, 1990.( PDF - 642K )

Hybrid Electric Vehicles:

New or Updated Item California Interim Certification Procedures for 2004 and Subsequent Model Hybrid-Electric Vehicles in the Urban Bus and Heavy-Duty Vehicle Classes, as amended on October 24, 2002.( PDF - 42K ). These procedures are under revision; please visit the Heavy-Duty Hybrid Electric Vehicle Certification Procedure webpage for more information.

Manufacturers Advisory Correspondence:

MAC 99-04: Tamper-Resistance Requirements for Diesel Injection Pumps( PDF - 406K )

MAC 07-03: Protocol for the Engine Shutdown System on New California Certified Heavy-Duty Diesel Engines for 2008 and Subsequent Model Years ( PDF - 101K )

Mailouts:

MSO 2007-03: New Requirement to Report Carbon Dioxide Emissions from 2008 and Subsequent Model Year California Certified Vehicles and Engines ( PDF - 85K )

MSO 2012-02: Public Workshop to Discuss Current Alternative Fuel Conversion Requirements for New and Used Vehicles and Engines. (PDF - 47K )


Reports


ARB Heavy-Duty Vehicle SCR Technology Field Evaluation-Second Study

The California Air Resources Board (ARB) staff conducted a second field study in 2011/2012 similar to the first study but with new heavy-duty diesel (HDD) engines tested. The investigations included (1) a follow-up survey of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) availability with the State of California, (2) roadside inspections to determine whether truck operators driving Selective Catalyst Reduction (SCR) equipped trucks on California roadways have tampered with SCR components or are not using DEF, (3) a re-evaluation of driver inducements on two SCR-equipped 2010 model year (MY) Cummins engines evaluated in the first study where error in programming and part malfunctions were found, (4) a continued evaluation of 2010+ MY NOx control strategies including an examination of the types and effectiveness of SCR driver inducements employed on SCR-equipped trucks, and (5) an examination of the emission impacts of HDD vehicles. All questions regarding this report should be directed to Mr. Tom Valencia, Manager, In-Use Compliance Section, Mobile Source Operations Division, (626) 575-6741.

SCR Technology Field Evaluation - Second Report ( PDF - 6930K )

ARB Heavy-Duty Vehicle SCR Technology Field Evaluation

The California Air Resources Board (ARB) staff conducted field investigations into the implementation of 2010 model year (MY) on-road heavy-duty diesel (HDD) engines equipped with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR).  The investigations included: (1) two surveys of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) availability within the State of California, (2) a survey to determine whether truck operators driving 2010 MY SCR-equipped trucks on California roadways have tampered with SCR components or are not using DEF, (3) an examination of the types and effectiveness of SCR driver inducements employed on 2010 MY HDD vehicles, and (4) an examination of the emission impacts of HDD SCR-equipped vehicles when DEF has been depleted, diluted or the SCR system has been tampered with. All questions regarding this report should be directed to Ms. Annette Hebert, Chief, Mobile Source Operations Division, at (626) 450-6150.

SCR Technology Field Evaluation Report ( PDF - 856K )

Workshops / Meetings


Public Workshop to Discuss Current Alternative Fuel Conversion Requirements for New and Used Vehicles and Engines

The California Air Resources Board (ARB) staff hosted a public workshop to clarify ARB's current requirements regarding conversion of vehicles and engines to operate on alternative fuels. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) promulgated changes to its rules affecting alternative fuel converters in 2011, and since then ARB has received numerous inquiries regarding its requirements for conversion of vehicles and engines to alternative fuels. Manufacturers have requested guidance on how to certify and show compliance with the ARB regulations. The intent of the workshop was to clarify ARB's regulations and test procedures regarding conversion of vehicles and engines to operate on alternative fuels for new vehicles and engines and for vehicles and engines that have already been purchased (aftermarket).

For more information, please read mail-out MSO #2012-02 ( PDF - 47K )

Selective Catalytic Reduction Workshop for New Diesel Engines

The California Air Resources Board (ARB) held a workshop concerning selective catalytic reduction for new diesel engines on July 20, 2010.

Presentation ( PDF - 231K )

Durability Demonstration Workshop for New Diesel Engines

The California Air Resources Board (ARB) held a workshop concerning durability demonstration and deterioration factors for new diesel engines on March 24, 2010.

Presentation ( PDF - 166K / PPT - 482K )
DF Carry-Across Worksheet ( XLS - 26K )
Sample Sensor Table
Original: ( XLS - 19K )
Revised: ( XLS - 38K )New or Updated Item

Executive Orders

Approvals

FAQ

This portion is still under development; check back soon!

Stay Informed

Please sign up to the Mobile Source Mailouts and MAC list server.

Related Links

Air Resources Board document management system, OpenDMS

Contact Us

Manager: email Kimberly Pryor or phone (626) 575-6640

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