Be Prepared for the New Off-Road Equipment Regulation on the Horizon
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) continues to shift gears on fleet requirements, and the Advanced Emission exhaust emission experts are dedicated to keeping you informed. We deliver up-to-the-minute CARB announcements, that affect your legal responsibilities to comply with state and federal requirements. We provide you with the facts without all the legal mumbo jumbo that can stop you in your tracks.
In CARB’s newest addition, renewable diesel (RD) requirements take center stage in the Off-Road Equipment Regulation. How has the In-Use Off-Road Diesel Fueled Fleets Regulation changed? What are the details? When do you need to comply? We’ve got the answers, and we make sense of it all for you.
Here’s the Rundown:
The Why
According to CARB, nitrous oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emitted by off-road diesel vehicles, rated at 25 horsepower (HP) or more, must be curbed at the statewide level to reduce health risks. To this end, CARB approved amendments to the In-Use Off-Road Regulation on November 17, 2022.
The amendments add additional obligations, but they do not change the existing requirements.
CARB divides engine emission standards into Tiers. Tier 0 indicates emissions from uncontrolled engines, engines in Tiers 1 and 2 make up 60% of NOx and PM emissions (as of 2022), and as you go across the chart, the new Tier 4 engines of 100-175 HP will eventually display negligent emissions. To get to this optimum goal, CARB introduced new additional amendments.
The Details
Beginning January 1, 2024:
- The oldest and highest PM-emitting off-road engines are to be phased out. Every fleet must phase out Tier 0 engines to a permanent low use (200 hours or less per year) or remove the engine from operation in California
- The new minimum Tier requirement goes into effect, mandating that only engines in Tier 4 Final category may be added to medium and large fleets, and Tier 4 Interim may be added to small fleets (with engines of 500 HP or less and must be cleaner by January 1, 2025)
How to Prove Compliance
Fleets must clean a minimum of 10% of the fleet HP until getting to the final Fleet Average Target (FAT). (Excess cleanup points will continue to carry over to small fleets of 25-100 HP until January of 2028).
The mandate to use R99 or R100 renewable diesel (RD) fuel for all fleets goes into effect. Fleets must submit annual fueling receipts and contracts to prove all rental and fleet-owned off-road vehicles are solely using these RD fuels, or they maintain records to indicate attempts at obtaining these fuels. Fleets that are solely comprised of off-road vehicles that fall in the Tier-4 Final category are exempt.
Fleets must submit a valid Certificate of Reported Compliance to contractors to be hired for work.
How to Learn More
View the language of CARBs new off-road equipment regulation and check CARB’s recommended funding Incentive programs. Need a refresher on the basic Off-Road Vehicle Regulation? We break it down for you on this handy web page.
More information is coming soon! Bookmark our blog and check back for future announcements and updates as they come available. Advanced Emission continues to monitor your concerns and we’re open to your questions.
Have specific questions as they pertain to your vehicles and your fleet? Reach out to us and give our emissions team a call for a free consultation at (559) 240-6076.
