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Fleet inspection is critical to achieving clean air. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 10, 2008
	  	  	
Dimitri Stanich
office 916-322-2990
www.arb.ca.gov

Hauling company fined $54,000 for air quality violations

SACRAMENTO: The Air Resources Board announced today that it has
fined Command Delivery Systems $54,000 for air quality violations
at the company's Walnut, Calif., terminal.

"The evidence of health damage from diesel exhaust is
overwhelming," said ARB Chairman Mary Nichols. "For the health of
all Californians, truck owners must assure that their engines are
running optimally."

An ARB investigation showed that Command Delivery Systems
personnel failed to maintain proper records of their fleet's
diesel-engine inspections, as required by California law. The law
requires annual smoke tests for diesel truck fleets and, in
conjunction with ARB's roadside smoke inspection program, ensures
that all vehicles are properly maintained, tamper-free and free
from excessive smoke.

As part of the settlement, Command Delivery Systems is required
to:

    * Guarantee employees responsible for conducting the
inspections attend a mandatory California community college class
on diesel emissions and provide certificates of completion within
one year;
    * Provide documentation to ARB that the inspections are
being carried out for the next four years;
    * Instruct vehicle operators to comply with the state's
idling regulations;
    * Revise all heavy-duty truck engine software with the
latest Low-NOx (oxides of nitrogen emissions) programming; and,
    * Ensure that all diesel trucks are up to federal emissions
standards for the vehicle model year and are properly labeled
with an emission control label. 

Command Delivery Systems will pay $40,500 to the California Air
Pollution Control Fund, which uses the money to reduce air
pollution through a variety of programs. The Peralta Community
College District will receive the remaining $6,750 to fund
emissions education classes conducted by participating California
community colleges, and $6,750 will go to the California
Pollution Control Financing Authority.

A decade ago, the ARB listed diesel particulate matter as a
toxic air contaminant in order to protect public health. Exposure
to unsafe levels of diesel emissions can increase the risk of
asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory diseases. California has
aggressively worked to cut diesel emissions by cleaning up diesel
fuel, requiring cleaner engines for trucks, buses and off-road
equipment, and limiting unnecessary idling.

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.

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