By TRT Road Service
Yes. CARB says Clean Truck Check requirements are in effect for subject vehicles, including vehicles registered outside of California when operating in the state. An Arizona-registered truck is registered outside California, so a run to Needles or Barstow puts it in the program if it is a subject vehicle. CARB says nearly all diesel and alternative fuel trucks over 14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating that operate in California are covered. Check your own truck against that line, then read on for what to do.
What does Clean Truck Check ask of an out-of-state owner-operator?
CARB lists three duties for a subject vehicle. According to its program page, the owner must report, pay an annual compliance fee, and submit required passing emissions tests.
The fee amount is not on the program page, so check CARB before you budget for it. CARB’s FAQ says the fee adjusts in line with the California Consumer Price Index, so an old number may be wrong.
The test must come from the right person. CARB says emissions compliance testing must be done by a CARB-credentialed tester using a certified CARB testing device.
Which kind of test does your engine need?
CARB sorts trucks by engine type. Diesel engines from 2013 and newer are OBD-equipped, and diesel engines from 2012 and older are non-OBD. The test type follows that split.
CARB also says that OBD-equipped vehicles will later be required to test four times per year. CARB’s own pages give different start years for that change. Ask CARB for the current start date if your engine is OBD-equipped.
Registered outside California? Clean Truck Check still applies when you operate in the state. Source
How do you find your compliance deadline?
For a truck registered outside California, the deadline comes from the last digit of the VIN. CARB says these vehicles must show compliance every six months. Here are CARB’s deadline months by last VIN digit:
- Last digit 0 or 6: April and October.
- Last digit 1 or 7: May and November.
- Last digit 2 or 8: June and December.
- Last digit 3 or 9: January and July.
- Last digit 4: February and August.
- Last digit 5: March and September.
Those months come from CARB’s table for non-California registered vehicles. The same table marks the month your fee is due, so read it before you plan.
You do not have to wait for the deadline month. CARB says vehicles may submit tests no more than 90 days prior to the compliance deadline. CARB also says any deadline of January 1, 2025 or later requires a passing compliance test.
Your deadline follows the last digit of your VIN, every six months. Source
Tests may be submitted no more than 90 days before the deadline. Source
What if you only run into California now and then?
CARB’s FAQ describes a short-term pass. It says Clean Truck Check offers a five consecutive day pass for each vehicle, once per calendar year. The same answer says the pass must be submitted 7 business days before entering California.
The FAQ does not say in so many words that an out-of-state truck qualifies. Ask CARB whether your truck does before you rely on the pass.
A five consecutive day pass: once per calendar year, submitted 7 business days before entering California. Source
What happens if you skip it?
CARB says non-compliance may result in DMV registration blocks and other enforcement action. Its FAQ covers a vehicle that fails to test after a Notice to Submit. That vehicle may be subject to CARB enforcement action, such as penalties and registration holds.
For the exact rules that apply to your truck, call CARB. Its Clean Truck Check line is (866) 634-3735 and its email is hd**@****ca.gov.
Where does a roadside repair fit in?
Clean Truck Check is CARB’s program, and the testing is not TRT’s job. TRT is a mobile diesel repair and heavy-duty diagnostics business. The mechanics come to your breakdown location, Tennessee personally handles most jobs, and TRT is open 24/7.
The part TRT can help with is the truck side. On its California Clean Truck Check support page, TRT describes diagnosis and repair support for emissions-system symptoms. TRT’s page lists DPF warnings, DEF faults, failed regens and derate messages among them. TRT’s DPF and DEF system repair page covers those systems.
TRT does not promise a pass. Official results depend on CARB’s rules and the credentialed tester. Say your truck throws an emissions warning before a Needles or Barstow run. A fault code read at your location tells you what you are dealing with. TRT uses JPRO Professional dealer-level fault code reading on site.
TRT is open 24/7 and comes to your breakdown location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions people ask before they call or book.
Does TRT do official Clean Truck Check testing?
No. TRT’s support page says it is for emissions-system diagnosis and repair support. Official testing goes through a CARB-credentialed tester, and CARB’s pages are the place for compliance questions.
Does a one-way trip to Barstow count as operating in California?
CARB’s page covers vehicles operating in the state, and Barstow is in the state. For a close call, such as the short-term pass above, ask CARB at the number above.
Who should I call about my deadline?
Call CARB. It sets the deadlines, so its answer is the one that counts. TRT’s role is the truck, not the paperwork.
Call TRT Road Service
If a warning light or a derate is in the way of your California run, call TRT at (928) 577-1496. Or use the contact page to describe the problem. If you are not sure what TRT can do for your truck, call TRT to ask. For the rules themselves, CARB has the final word.
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