Posted on Dec 29, 2007 - 9:28am by Don Rogers in Trucking
or…..How to Bake a Truck Driver
Heads-up for drivers that actually still go to California, starting in the New Year, California is changing its rules on idling. Drivers will no longer be allowed to idle their trucks while in sleeper, use of that expensive APU is prohibited if you have a 2007+ engine, and fines are going up. More can be found on the CARB website.
California’s new rules make using an APU on a truck having a 2007+ engine useless. Their logic(?) is that the engine produces less emission than the APU, but the rules state that no truck, no matter the model year can idle more than 5 minutes??? My new truck is a 2007 model with a 2006 engine, how is that cop going to know that I can run my APU without banging on the door and waking me up to check the plate on the side of my engine? I doubt if they will bother, just write the ticket then make me fight it in court.
I swore off going to California a few years back and just re-enforces the reason why I do not go out there. Unfortunately the citizens of California follow along blindly behind the eco-nuts in Sacramento and fail to see how much these type of rules cost them. If this sort of thing keeps up, they will all have to drive to Kingman, AZ to buy their groceries because no trucks will be able to cross into Cali!
Be Safe and have a Happy New Year,
Don Rogers
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From what I’ve found by a long websearch, the anti-idling applies only when parked within 100′ of homes or schools.
In addition, there is this:
http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=59162
Cummins Says It Will Meet New California Idling Regs
9/25/2007
Cummins announced that beginning Jan. 1, 2008, all of its on-highway products will meet the California Air Resources Board’s new idle reduction regulation.
CARB established the more stringent standard to further reduce emissions by limiting idling of new and in-use diesel trucks, including those with sleeper berths. The exemption that used to exist for idling engines for driver comfort during the mandatory rest period no longer exists. The new engine requirements apply to 2008 and subsequent model year diesel engines in trucks with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating greater than 14,000 pounds and licensed for on-highway operation.
The new rule requires manufacturers to either have an automatic five-minute idle shutdown timer that is tamper-resistant and non-programmable or NOx idle emissions of 30 grams per hour or less. *Cummins 2008 on-highway engines will have idle NOx emissions of less than 30 grams per hour and, therefore, will be allowed to *idle indefinitely.*
The Cummins ISX, ISM, ISL, ISC and ISB engines will all be “Clean Idle” certified by generating very low NOx emissions at idle.
…
Let’s not panic over this issue. Having driven CA for 21+ years, I have seen smog so thick in the daytime you can’t see the Toyota in front of you. And it burns eyes, throat and lungs.
CA air quality has improved greatly in the last few years, but there are still a lot of bad days in Southern California. Emissions needed to be lowered. After all, we all have to breathe, don’t we?
Get a dog for your truck because I hear that if you have an animal in your truck then you can Idle your truck. you see the California Government cares more about dogs and cats health than the human that is in charge of the vessel. Also in all the time that I went to calififornia, I never saw anyone enforce the anti idle laws there.
It’s obvious that there is a great deal of confusion regarding the new California Laws.
It’s also obvious that many innocent and/or ignorant of the law drivers are going to suffer.
Solution? I’m not going to California.
It’s the only way to be sure.
There couldn’t be more proof that the anti-idling laws were just another way to get money out of drivers, than the fact that APU’s are banned also. They know that at any given time, they can ticket a driver somewhere who is just trying to survive.
What also surprised me is when the general public hears this, they don’t understand. They feel that it doesn’t effect them and that it’s great for the environment.
These laws also prove the hypocrisy of our government. How can you mention hours of service problems when the driver isn’t allowed to produce an environment he can safely rest in?
I don’t know how many people ask me why we just don’t stay in a motel. That is how uneducated the public is about our occupation that they love to complain about.
Let’s be honest about this.
APU’s are not banned in California. You can use them on trucks with 2006 or older engines. You cannot use them on 2007 or newer engines unless the following conditions are met.
(from the carb website linked to in the blog)
Diesel-Fueled Auxiliary Power Systems:
* A Diesel-Fueled Auxiliary Power System operated on a truck equipped with a 2007 or newer engine must:
o Be fitted with a verified Level 3 particulate control device (85% particulate reduction efficiency), or
o Have its exhaust plumbed into the vehicle’s exhaust system upstream of the particulate matter after treatment device.
* In addition, an approved “Verified Clean APS” label must be affixed to the hood of the vehicle.
So..all you need to do is to plumb the APU exhaust the way they want you to.
CARB will not do anything to reduce pollution caused by California voters but they will do anything else they can think of to maintain their image and justify their existence. As in the past, their main targets for new regulation will be those who have no political power in Sacramento. That means any out of state entity that operates diesel powered equipment within the state, trucking companies, rail companies, shipping companies, etc.
If these regulations cause enough damage to California’s economy, history will repeat. The Governor will fire the director of CARB and appoint someone who is more “understanding” of the needs of industry. You will hear things from CARB like ” We see a need for extending exemptions from idling regulations until suitable improvements have been made in idle-reduction technology”.
Regardless, California does have the worst air in the world and something must be done. The best solution for now is to just stay out of California. You will be able to sleep peacefully knowing that you’re not aggravating some kid’s asthma.
Jeffrey A. White said:
Regardless, California does have the worst air in the world and something must be done. The best solution for now is to just stay out of California. You will be able to sleep peacefully knowing that you’re not aggravating some kid’s asthma.
gotcha. Makes sense to me.
Anonymous, problem with plumbing into truck exhaust- now you’re violating EPA regs that truck particulate filter system not be modified. I think I’ve heard of 1 APU mfg. company that has a working filter, probably not cheap.
As for the 100′ in residential idea, read the regs again. No truck idling, anywhere, anytime, period.
Bottom line folks: Cali can do whatever they want with regulations such as these. My federalist leanings tell me states have the right to regulate things such as these. If you want to participate in California freight opportunities, pony up the costs incurred and pass the costs on to your customers….oh, wait, this is trucking isn’t it. Well then, if you still want California freight you’ll make do I guess.
I haven’t been to California in years, figured after the 12 years my wife and I spent running team, and spending a lot of those years in California at least once a week, I’ve seen enough of the state to last me a lifetime. I keep hoping maybe everybody will finally get tired of the hassles and stop servicing the state, but that’s probably a pipe dream at best.
Truckers are saving more in fuel costs from putting on an APU on 2006 and older trucks than it costs them to make the payments on a financed APU of about $200/month.
its a no brainer, win win win situation for the environment, trucks, and the companies that make apu’s.
open your eyes!
About 10 years ago in California there was a bill that actually made its way to the floor of the legislature @ Sacramento. It was a bill to outlaw diesel trucks in the entire state. And they actually voted on it. The bill was shot down when it was realized that nearly all of the gasoline for cars was hauled into and around CA by diesel trucks. Too bad someone with an ounce of foresight had to remind them of that.
My company has no APUs on our trucks and does not pay or reimburse Idle Aire. Speaking of the latter, I wonder how hard it is to land an Idle Aire parking spot at Bruces these days.
Smartway and CARB will hurt all Truckers bottom line.
How about a SmartCARB surcharge on all freight coming in or going out of all CARB adopted States.
Something like 10 or 15% of the fuel surcharge.