ARB and California Trucking Association Offer Free Software Upgrade for Diesel Engines

SACRAMENTO -- The California Air Resources Board (ARB) and the California Trucking Association (CTA) are providing an opportunity for Bay Area diesel truck owners to have a mandatory software upgrade (Reflash) installed free of charge.

Thursday, July 15, 2004
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Port of Oakland
Middle Harbor Shoreline Park
7th Street and Middle Harbor Road

Website: http://www.ebparks.org/parks/midlhar.htm

Lunch will be provided by CTA.

This program applies to truck model years 1993-1999 manufactured by Renault, Cummins, Navistar / International, Mack, Volvo, Caterpillar and Detroit Diesel Corporation. On these engines the companies failed to provide optimum emission reduction performance as required by their certification. Now, in cooperation with ARB and CTA, they are redressing this free of charge.

ARB is allowing the manufacturers to reflash the software on these engines voluntarily. In October, ARB will review their progress to determine if existing regulations will need to be enforced. Manufacturers have indicated that if forced to comply through regulations, they would pass the cost of the upgrade to the engine owners.

CTA will also discuss logistics for the continued implementation of this voluntary and free program.

The Air Resources Board is a department of the California Environmental Protection Agency. ARB's mission is to promote and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain health based air quality standards.