What to Know About Clean Truck Check

California is the first state in the nation to take concrete steps towards a zero-emissions future, approving new programs under the California Air Resource Board (CARB) to achieve net-zero carbon pollution by 2045. There is much to understand about the requirements and how it will impact fleets of all sizes.

Whether you own one commercial motor vehicle or manage an entire fleet, are based in California or operate on California highways occasionally, staying current with Clean Truck Check (CTC) vehicle emissions requirements is essential to keeping your business moving.

Here’s what you need to know about Clean Truck Check (CTC):

This program is applicable to vehicles with a GVWR of 14,001 pounds or more and that are equipped with a non-gasoline engine.

It requires:

• Registration and payment of a compliance fee to operate in California. The 2024 compliance fee is due prior to operating in California. Starting in 2025, the registration fee will be due at the time of the first required OBD upload for the year.
• Owners to submit OBD data confirming the vehicle is operating within its designed emissions parameters twice a year starting in 2025. If the vehicle does not have an OBD capable of reporting the required data (such as vehicle with engines built prior to MY 2013), the vehicle will have to undergo smoke opacity testing and a visual component inspection twice a year. Information from the testing and inspection must be submitted in place of the OBD data. The download/upload or smoke opacity/visual inspection must be done by a CARB-licensed tester. Companies can have an employee trained to do the tests. The compliance/submission dates are based on:
  • The month the plate expires if the vehicle is plated in California (and six months later), or
  • The last digit of the vehicle’s VIN (and six months later) if the vehicle is plated in another state.
• Clean Truck Check offers a five-consecutive-day pass for each vehicle, once per calendar year.