California Diesel Truck Rules

The document details two 2008 CARB regulations: a Global Warming Rule targeting heavy-duty truck fuel efficiency through aerodynamic features and tires, and a Smog and Particulate Rule requiring diesel particulate filters for trucks over 14,000 pounds. It highlights projected benefits, including the prevention of 9,400 premature deaths and billions in health cost savings, while suggesting further improvements to the global warming rule to cover more vehicle types.

• The Truck Global Warming Rule targets 53-foot-long trailers and their tractors, requiring aerodynamic features and fuel-efficient tires for new vehicles starting in model year 2011 and retrofits for older models by 2012 and 2013. These improvements are projected to increase fuel efficiency by 8 percent and save 1 billion gallons of diesel fuel annually across the country by 2020.
• The Smog and Particulate Rule applies to all diesel trucks heavier than 14,000 pounds and school buses in California, phasing in between 2011 and 2023. Most vehicles must have a diesel particulate filter by 2014, which is expected to reduce particulate matter by more than 95 percent.
• CARB estimates that the Smog and Particulate Rule will prevent 9,400 premature deaths and thousands of hospitalizations for heart and lung disease over 15 years. While the rule is estimated to cost $5.5 billion over 15 years, the health benefits are projected to be between $48 billion and $68 billion.
• The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) suggests three ways to further reduce global warming pollution: expanding tire requirements to the 40 percent of tractor-trailer miles driven by flat beds, tankers, and shorter trailers; requiring full aerodynamic features for new trucks to eliminate 30 percent more pollution; and expanding requirements to include straight delivery trucks.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2009). California Diesel Truck Rules. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/california-diesel-truck-rules.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. California Diesel Truck Rules. 2009. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/california-diesel-truck-rules.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=California Diesel Truck Rules |date=29 January 2009 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/california-diesel-truck-rules.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2009california, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{California Diesel Truck Rules}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2009}, month = jan, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/california-diesel-truck-rules.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }