CARB Proposes Regulations for New and Existing Truck and Trailer Refrigeration Units (TRUs): Are You Ready?

UPDATE: Click Here to Find the Latest CARB Information

California Carb Compliance

If you own transport refrigeration units (TRUs) and have one of the 56,700 TRUs that operate daily in California, you need to be aware that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has proposed new regulations that impact TRU emissions in addition to other items.

Here are the main proposed concepts:

1. All TRUs must register with CARB – Timing 2022
2. All newly manufactured truck, trailer, domestic shipping containers, and rail TRUs manufactured with refrigerant must have a Global Warming Potential (GWP) less than or equal to 2,200  – Timing 2022
3. All trailer and domestic shipping container TRUs will meet zero-emission operation when parked or stationary for more than 15 minutes at an applicable facility – Timing 2025
4. All trailer and domestic shipping container TRUs must be equipped with electronic telematics system – Timing 2025
   
5. All trailer and domestic shipping container TRUs must meet US EPA Tier 4 Final emission standards for 25-50 horsepower engines – Timing 2025
   
6. All truck TRUs must phase in 15% per year (over 7 years) of their fleet to zero-emission – Timing 2025

Most of the proposed changes impact in use equipment and not just newly manufactured equipment.

Thermo King's Precedent® S Series engine was developed to meet both CARB and EPA emissions compliance starting in 2013 and fulfills all of the newly proposed emissions concepts. This is important for users of TRUs to understand as TRUs placed in service and that are expected to operate in California in 2025, must meet the emissions requirements.

The Thermo King SmartPower™ option, which is available for every Thermo King Trailer TRU, enables future compliance with the proposed zero-emission operation when stationary.

Since 2018, all Precedent TRUs have been fitted with telematics hardware, meeting the electronic telematics system proposal.

Thermo King offers a 452A refrigerant option today for Precedent MT units. This same option will be available for ST trailer units prior to 2022, and all straight truck TRUs by 2021.

Determine your fleet’s readiness against the EPA’s Tier IV Final Regulations:

Is your fleet ready for these new proposed regulations? Precedent S Series unit with SmartPower™ is the answer to CARB compliance now and beyond 2025.

*The information provided herein does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials are provided for general informational purposes only. If you have any questions about this information, you should consult with your individual attorney to provide assurances that the information – and your interpretation of it – is applicable or appropriate to your particular situation. The information is provided "as is;" no representations are made with respect to the accuracy of the information.