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Clean Truck Check | California's Emissions Program
Truck Maintenance Guide

What Are the Steps to Pass Clean Truck Check?

Passing the Clean Truck Check requires fleet owners and operators to follow a structured process that ensures all heavy-duty vehicles meet California Air Resources Board (CARB) emissions standards. The program, part of the Heavy-Duty Inspection and Maintenance (HD I/M) initiative, covers trucks, buses, motorhomes, and other emission-producing vehicles with a GVWR over 14,000 pounds. Compliance involves electronic emissions inspections, vehicle registration verification, and adherence to periodic smoke inspection program (PSIP) requirements. Understanding and implementing these steps helps fleets avoid penalties, reduce smog and fine particulate matter, and maintain operational efficiency while protecting public health.

Clean Truck Check Program

Table of Contents

Identify Which Vehicles Must Comply with Clean Truck Check

The first step is creating a comprehensive inventory of applicable heavy-duty vehicles. This includes diesel, alternative fuel, and hybrid trucks or buses over 14,000 pounds that operate in California. Fleet owners can utilize Clean Truck Check in Edgemont, CA to help identify vehicles. It is important to note that certain vehicles are exempt, including zero-emissions vehicles, authorized emergency vehicles, military tactical vehicles, motorhomes registered outside California, historical vehicles, vehicles under experimental permits, gasoline-powered vehicles, and new vehicles certified to the most stringent NOx standards. Fleet owners should identify each vehicle that will require compliance, ensuring OBD-equipped vehicles and pre-2013 diesel trucks are accounted for in the inventory.

Determine Compliance Deadlines for Your Fleet

Vehicle compliance deadlines vary depending on registration type and location. For California-registered vehicles, deadlines are based on DMV registration expiration, while out-of-state vehicles use the VIN’s last digit to determine compliance dates. Initially, emissions testing is required twice per year for OBD-equipped vehicles, but starting in 2027, quarterly testing will be mandatory. Non-OBD vehicles undergo visual and functional inspections twice per year, with diesel vehicles also subject to SAE J1667 smoke opacity tests. Tracking these deadlines ensures that fleets meet testing requirements in a timely manner, avoiding fines and registration blocks.

Register Your Vehicles in the Clean Truck Check System

To comply with CARB regulations, fleet managers must create an entity account in the Clean Truck Check Vehicle Inspection System (CTC-VIS). Vehicles can be added individually or via bulk upload, and the annual CARB compliance fee, usually around $32 per vehicle, must be paid. Once registered, fleets can schedule emissions testing at CARB-certified facilities or utilize mobile CARB compliance diesel testing services, including services available at Clean Truck Check in El Casco,CA. Successful registration and testing submissions automatically update CTC-VIS and DMV records, ensuring each vehicle is recognized as Clean Truck Check compliant and eligible to operate legally in California.

Complete Required Emissions Testing and Inspections

Emissions testing involves both electronic and physical inspections depending on the vehicle type. OBD-equipped vehicles from 2013 and newer are tested using CARB-certified OBD scan tools, ensuring no emissions-related diagnostic trouble codes are present, monitor readiness is complete, and the battery is functional. Pre-2013 diesel vehicles require visual inspections of emissions control equipment and SAE J1667 smoke opacity tests. The Portable Emission Acquisition System (PEAQS) may also be used for accurate readings. Test results are submitted electronically to CTC-VIS, providing instant certification and compliance verification.

Prepare for Ongoing Compliance and Periodic Testing

Ongoing compliance involves maintaining fleet emissions data, repairing high-emitting vehicles promptly, and training drivers on regulatory requirements. Continuous connectivity with OBD and telematics devices allows automatic reporting and early identification of potential violations such as excessive smoke, tampering, or emission control label issues. Implementing a proactive maintenance schedule reduces emissions, improves fleet efficiency, and minimizes the risk of fines or blocked DMV registrations. Fleet managers are encouraged to plan for future quarterly testing starting in 2027 to ensure uninterrupted compliance.

Understand Clean Truck Check Exemptions and Exceptions

Several categories of vehicles are exempt from Clean Truck Check requirements. Zero-emissions vehicles, authorized emergency vehicles, military tactical vehicles, motorhomes registered outside California, historical vehicles, vehicles under experimental permits, gasoline-powered vehicles, and new vehicles meeting stringent NOx standards do not require testing. Understanding these exemptions allows fleet managers to prioritize resources for applicable vehicles and ensures proper documentation is maintained for verification during inspections.

How Telematics and Technology Streamline CARB Compliance

Ensuring Modern fleets can leverage telematics, non-continuously-connected OBD scan tools, and portable emissions testing devices to streamline compliance. Continuous data collection allows instant reporting to CARB, automated diagnostics, and identification of high-emitting vehicles before violations occur. Mobile CARB compliance diesel testing services offer onsite inspections, reducing downtime and ensuring that fleets maintain uninterrupted operations while adhering to requirements. Integrating solutions like Clean Truck Check in Cahuilla Hills, CA further enhances compliance efficiency. Technology integration also provides insights for maintenance planning, emissions reduction, and improved health outcomes by lowering smog and fine particulate matter exposure.

Avoid Penalties and Maintain Certification

Non-compliance with Clean Truck Check carries serious consequences, including citations, civil penalties, blocked DMV registration, and potential operational interruptions. Fleet owners can mitigate these risks by maintaining up-to-date CTC-VIS accounts, adhering to testing schedules, ensuring no check engine malfunction indicator lights (MILs) are active, and keeping batteries connected for OBD data retention. Certification for fleet managers, mobile diesel techs, and service shops is available through CARB-approved training videos, open-book exams, and ongoing education programs. By implementing these steps, fleets protect both public health and operational efficiency while demonstrating commitment to environmental responsibility.