New Regulations for Old Trucks to Take Effect Oct. 1, 2009

Friday, 18 September 2009
Contact: Marguerite Elicone (619) 686-6281

Owners of diesel-fueled, heavy-duty trucks that are used to transport cargo to and from ports have until Sept. 30, 2009, to comply with a new state regulation requiring them to enter their operator information into a truck registry.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) adopted the regulation last year. The aim is to reduce truck emissions associated with the marine terminals in the state. Trucks manufactured in 1993 or earlier will be prohibited from entering the terminals and must be replaced with trucks that have newer, less polluting engines. In addition, trucks built between 1994-2003 would be required to install a special filter designed to cut emissions.

Owners of the older model trucks have until January 1, 2010, to replace or retrofit their trucks. Truck owners and operators serving the Port of San Diego’s marine terminals may register their truck information at the CARB website.

In addition to the CARB registry, truck operators must register with the Port of San Diego’s web-based registration system, also known as eModal. The eModal system will help avoid long delays at the terminal entrances. Detailed registration information is available (pdf).

Trucks that are registered will receive an identification tag which is installed on the truck and is used to automatically capture data at the security gate for both the truck and its driver. This system will allow security personnel at the marine terminals to verify and process trucks quickly. This type of tracking is in use at the Ports of Long Beach, Los Angeles and Oakland.

Trucks visiting the Port’s Tenth Avenue and National City Marine Terminals that haven’t registered their operator information will be reported to CARB beginning Oct. 1, 2009. The Port strongly urges its customers to register before the upcoming deadline.

Grants to assist with truck replacement or retrofitting are available through the state’s Proposition 1B Goods Movement Emissions Reduction Plan. CARB and the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District, the local agency responsible for administering the grant funding, will soon be taking applications from interested truck owners. For more information on funding, please contact Mike Watt of the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District at (858) 586-2711.

The Port of San Diego has set aside money to help pay for retrofits and replacements. Truck owners who qualify for complete replacement may receive up to $50,000 in state grant funding with the Port matching half of the remaining cost, up to $50,000. For those qualifying for retrofitting, they may receive up to $5,000 in grant funding. The Port would match this amount up to $5,000.

The Port hosted three informational meetings in August and one in September about the upcoming registration deadlines and it informed truck owners about the new screening systems at the marine terminals.

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