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

Do I Need a Clean Truck Check for My Truck in California?

PassingIf you operate a heavy-duty vehicle in California with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) over 14,000 pounds, the California Clean Truck Check (CTC) Program requires you to determine if your truck must comply with emissions testing. Diesel engines model year 2013+ and alternative fuel engines model year 2018+ are subject to OBD (On-Board Diagnostics) data collection and smoke opacity tests. Compliance ensures your vehicle meets CARB emissions standards and allows you to obtain the required certification through CARB’s CTC-VIS portal. Using tools like the Silver Snap-Tool and Data Transfer Services (DTS), fleet owners can simplify submissions and ensure accurate reporting to the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

Clean Truck Check Program

Understanding California’s Clean Truck Check Requirements

The California Clean Truck Check program enforces emissions standards for heavy-duty non-gasoline vehicles operating in the state. Vehicles must undergo OBD testing, smoke opacity tests, and visual inspections to confirm compliance. Clean Truck Check in Bonnie Bell, CA fleet owners are responsible for registering vehicles in the CTC-VIS portal, paying annual compliance fees, and submitting results from approved testing facilities. The Silver Snap-Tool with its Online Installer (EXE), Installation Guide (PDF), and Manual (PDF) facilitates data collection and submission. Compliance ensures vehicles meet CARB certification requirements and helps protect California’s air quality by monitoring diesel and alternative fuel engines.

Who Must Comply with the Clean Truck Check Program?

Commercial trucks, buses, transit and school buses, motorcoaches, and motorhomes with GVWR over 14,000 pounds are subject to the California Clean Truck Check program. Diesel engines model year 2013+ and alternative fuel engines model year 2018+ must undergo periodic OBD testing, while older engines may require smoke opacity tests. Fleet operators must ensure that all applicable vehicles are registered in the CTC-VIS portal and complete emissions testing at CARB-authorized facilities using approved VCI hardware, such as Kvaser Leaf Light HS v2 OBDII, Kvaser Leaf Light HS v2 J1939-13 Type II, or Nexiq USB-Link 3 with adapter cables.

Clean Truck Check Exemptions: Is Your Truck Eligible?

Certain vehicles are exempt from the California Clean Truck Check program. These include zero-emission vehicles like battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell trucks, emergency vehicles such as fire trucks and ambulances, historical vehicles over 25 years old for non-commercial use, military tactical vehicles, and motorhomes registered outside California. Exempt vehicles are not required to complete OBD or opacity testing but must still be reported in the CTC-VIS portal if operating within the state. Knowing exemptions ensures fleet owners avoid unnecessary testing costs and streamline compliance management.

How to Determine Your Truck’s Compliance Deadlines

Emissions Compliance deadlines for the California Clean Truck Check depend on vehicle type, registration status, and engine model year. California-registered vehicles follow annual, semi-annual, or quarterly emissions testing schedules, with OBD-equipped diesel engines 2013+ subject to twice-yearly testing initially, increasing to four times per year after three years. Clean Truck Check in Dutch Village, CA is available for fleet owners to use. Out-of-state vehicles entering California must comply within a 30-day window. Fleet owners can use the CARB Pre-Check Viewer tool to track upcoming deadlines, monitor pending test submissions, and ensure all vehicles meet CTC-VIS reporting requirements.

Step-by-Step Guide to Registering for the Clean Truck Check

To register for the Clean Truck Check, fleet owners must first take CARB training and pass the exam to become approved testers. Then, determine the number of computers that will run the Silver Snap-Tool software, select required VCI hardware, and request quotes for software licenses, DTS subscriptions, and optional hardware packages. After providing tester IDs and registered emails, download and install the software using the Online Installer (EXE), configure VCI drivers, and establish a DTS account. Testing can then begin, with OBD snapshots collected, packaged, encrypted, and transmitted to the CARB server for automatic analysis. Results are viewable through the CTC-VIS portal.

Penalties for Non-Compliance with California’s Clean Truck Check

Failure to comply with the California Clean Truck Check program can result in severe penalties. Vehicle owners may face fines of up to $10,000 per vehicle per day, registration holds with the DMV, and citations for violations such as excessive smoke, missing emissions labels, or refusing inspections. CARB-authorized facilities report non-compliance through the CTC-VIS portal, and OBD-enabled vehicles are monitored continuously to ensure emissions thresholds for PM and NOx are met. Adhering to testing and reporting requirements protects fleet operators from legal actions and helps maintain safe air quality standards.

How Certified Technology Helps Streamline Clean Truck Check Compliance

Certified technology such as the Silver Snap-Tool, VCI hardware, and Data Transfer Services (DTS) enables fleet operators to collect, encrypt, and submit OBD emissions data securely and efficiently. Multiple testers can sign into the same software, and license transfers between computers are supported. The system automatically evaluates pass/fail results, tracks warm-up cycles, engine running time, and active fault codes, while results are exportable to Excel for internal reporting. With features like these, Clean Truck Check in Edom, CA compliance becomes manageable for fleets of any size. Tutorial videos, manuals, and technical support provide guidance, making the process smooth and efficient.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Clean Truck Check Program

Fleet owners often ask how to obtain a Clean Truck Check certificate, the costs involved, and whether out-of-state trucks must comply. The first vehicle in a fleet is subject to a $95 fee, with subsequent vehicles at $75 each, plus an annual DTS subscription per computer. Certificates confirm that vehicles meet CARB emissions standards, and testing must be performed at CARB-authorized facilities. Using tools like the Silver Snap-Tool and CTC-VIS portal, owners can securely submit data, track compliance, and receive confirmations via email. Adhering to CARB guidance ensures ongoing compliance for diesel, alternative fuel, and hybrid heavy-duty vehicles.