Heavy-Duty Vehicle Idling Emission Reduction Program

This page last reviewed March 8, 2013

As a follow up to the in-use idling airborne toxic control measure (ATCM) adopted on July 22, 2004, the Air Resources Board, on October 20, 2005, approved a regulatory measure to further reduce emissions of toxics and criteria pollutants by limiting idling of new and in-use sleeper berth equipped diesel trucks. The regulation consists of new engine and in-use truck requirements and emission performance requirements for technologies used as alternatives to idling the truck's main engine.

The new engine requirements require 2008 and newer model year heavy-duty diesel engines to be equipped with a non-programmable engine shutdown system that automatically shuts down the engine after five minutes of idling or optionally meet a stringent oxides of nitrogen idling emission standard. The in-use truck requirements require operators of both in-state and out-of-state registered sleeper berth equipped trucks to manually shut down their engine when idling more than five minutes at any location within California beginning in 2008.

Emission producing alternative technologies such as diesel-fueled auxiliary power systems (APS) and fuel-fired heaters are also required to meet emission performance requirements that ensure emissions are not exceeding the emissions of a truck engine operating at idle. Specifically, the regulation requires diesel APSs installed on trucks with 2007 and newer engines to control particulate matter (PM) emissions by either routing the APS exhaust through the PM trap of the truck engine or by retrofitting the diesel APS with a verified level 3 PM control device that reduces PM emissions by at least 85 percent. Fuel fired heaters installed on trucks with 2007 and newer engines are also required to meet the Ultra Low Emission Vehicle requirements specified in the Low Emission Vehicle regulations. These requirements are effective beginning in 2008.

For trucks equipped with 2006 and older engines, any California or federally certified diesel-fueled APS or fuel-fired heater may be used.

• Idle Reduction Technologies for Sleeper Berth Vehicles 
• Formal Regulatory Documents for the Current Idling Regulation adopted in 2005
• School Bus Idle Reduction Program
• Carl Moyer Financial Incentives Program
• Diesel Emission Control Strategies Verification Program
• Off-Road Mobile Sources Emission Reduction Program
• Formal Regulatory Documents for the Original Idling Regulation adopted in 2004

• Call the Air Resources Board at 1-800-END-SMOG (1-800-363-7664)
• Submit a complaint online.
• Contact your local air pollution control district.

• Call the Air Resources Board at 1-800-END-SMOG (1-800-363-7664)
• Contact the Office of The Ombudsman.

• March 11, 2013: Public Workshop
  • Workshop Presentation (PDF - 268K)
    
• October 20, 2005: Public Hearing
  • Presentation (PDF - 6.61MB)
    
• March 23, 2005: Public Workshop (Added March 4, 2005)
  • Workshop Notice: Includes a meeting agenda and description of staff's draft proposal.
    • Word 97 - 51K
    • PDF - 117K
      
  • Workshop Presentation (Added March 30, 2005)
    • Powerpoint - 252K
    • PDF - 176K
      
• June 4, 2003: Public Workshop
  • Workshop Notice: Includes a meeting agenda and description of staff's draft proposal.
    • Word 97 - 128K
    • PDF - 151K
      
  • Workshop Presentation
    • PDF - 357K

On-Road Heavy Duty Vehicle Program
Diesel Activities - Certifications & Verifications