The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has adopted a regulation to improve the fuel efficiency of combinations of heavy-duty tractors and 53' trailers through implementation of tractor and trailer aerodynamics and low rolling-resistance tires. The regulation is officially the Heavy-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Regulation (abbreviated as "Regulation" below).

At a Profit

We invite fleets that are evaluating compliance strategies to read our document, CARB Compliance at a Profit, which describes technologies and timelines that maximize the cost-effectiveness of complying with the Regulation.

Two ATDynamics products are recognized by CARB to achieve standalone compliance with the Regulation's requirements for trailer aerodynamics, based on their verification under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency SmartWay Transport Partnership (SmartWay):

ATD-Transtex Skirts – SmartWay-verified 7.4% increase in fuel efficiency

TrailerTail® – SmartWay-verified 5.1% increase in fuel efficiency

Basic Features

The basic features of the Regulation include:

Compliance schedule – The Regulation is effective in 2010 and features a progressive compliance schedule that differs between small and large fleets and between new and existing equipment.

Standards – CARB modeled the Regulation after the voluntary standards of SmartWay. With respect to trailer aerodynamics, the regulation requires that 53' trailers must be equipped with aerodynamic technologies that have been verified under SmartWay to increase fuel efficiency by at least 5%, for dry vans, or 4%, for reefers.

Exemptions – The Regulation includes exemptions, notably for short-haul vehicles and non-box-type trailers.

Early compliance – Fleets that achieve compliance ahead of schedule receive credit toward compliance in later years. Fleets in early compliance also accelerate the benefits of fuel savings.

Financing – Technologies used to achieve compliance with the Regulation are eligible for special loan and lease programs.

For more detailed information on the Regulation, please visit the Regulation website.

--

To discuss the Regulation, including compliance strategies and financing, please contact us at info@atdynamics.com.