Hear from Our Customers
Non-compliance with California CARB regulations means fines starting at $1,000 and climbing to $10,000 per vehicle, per day. That’s not a scare tactic. That’s what CARB collected over $21.5 million enforcing in 2022 alone.
Beyond the money, you’re looking at DMV registration holds that ground your trucks. California Highway Patrol can pull non-compliant vehicles off the road during inspections. If you hire out, shippers face their own penalties for using non-compliant carriers, which means you lose contracts.
CARB compliance testing keeps your operation moving. You get certified results submitted directly to the state database, proof of compliance for inspections, and documentation that satisfies CARB’s Clean Truck Check program. Your trucks stay registered, your drivers stay working, and your business stays competitive.
This applies specifically to trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating over 14,000 pounds and model year 2013 or newer. If your diesel truck has an OBD system and operates in California, you need this testing twice a year starting in 2024, increasing to four times annually by 2028.
We operate as a CARB-credentialed testing facility in Manhattan Beach, CA. Our testers have completed California Air Resources Board training and passed the required certification exam. We use CARB-certified OBD testing devices that meet state requirements for heavy-duty vehicle compliance.
Manhattan Beach sits in the heart of the South Bay, where commercial trucking, logistics operations, and construction fleets move through daily. You’re not driving hours out of your way for testing. We’re positioned to serve operators throughout the Los Angeles basin who need reliable CARB emissions testing without the runaround.
We handle the technical side: OBD data scans, emissions readings, compliance documentation, and database submissions. You get results you can hand to CARB, CHP, or your customers without second-guessing whether it was done right.
You bring your 2013 or newer heavy-duty truck to our Manhattan Beach location. We’re testing trucks over 14,000 pounds GVWR equipped with OBD systems, which covers most modern diesel trucks operating under CARB’s Clean Truck Check program.
Our certified tester connects a CARB-approved OBD scanner to your truck’s diagnostic port. The device pulls emissions data, checks for fault codes, and verifies that your emissions control systems are functioning as designed. This isn’t a visual inspection or a guess. It’s a data-driven scan that CARB accepts as official compliance testing.
If your truck passes, we submit the results directly to the CARB database within the required timeframe. You receive documentation showing your TRUCRS certificate status is current. That’s your proof for inspections, registration renewals, and customer requirements.
If issues come up during testing, we’ll tell you exactly what flagged and what needs attention. You’ll have 30 days from the test date to address any problems and retest. The goal is getting you compliant, not running up your bill with unnecessary work.
Testing windows open 90 days before your compliance deadline. That gives you time to schedule, address any maintenance needs, and avoid last-minute panic when CARB sends a notice to test.
Ready to get started?
Every CARB compliance test includes a full OBD system scan using state-certified equipment. We check emissions performance, verify your diesel particulate filter and selective catalytic reduction systems are operating correctly, and confirm there are no active fault codes that would trigger a failure.
You get official documentation submitted to California’s TRUCRS database. That’s the system CARB, CHP, and the DMV all reference when checking compliance status. Your test results go directly into the state record, so there’s no gap between testing and proof of compliance.
In Manhattan Beach and across California’s commercial corridors, CARB enforcement is active and consistent. The South Bay sees significant truck traffic moving between the ports, warehouses, and construction sites. CHP runs regular inspections on the 405, 110, and Pacific Coast Highway. Having current CARB compliance isn’t just smart planning; it’s a requirement every time your trucks hit California roads.
We also handle the annual compliance fee payment, currently $32.13 as of 2026, which is separate from testing but required to maintain your registration in the program. It’s one less administrative task you need to track.
This service is limited to semi trucks and heavy-duty vehicles model year 2013 or newer with a GVWR over 14,000 pounds. Older trucks or lighter vehicles fall under different testing requirements that we don’t cover.
Any heavy-duty truck over 14,000 pounds GVWR that operates in California must comply with CARB’s Clean Truck Check program. This includes both California-registered trucks and out-of-state trucks that drive in California.
The requirement specifically applies to diesel trucks model year 2013 and newer that are equipped with OBD systems. If your truck fits that description and you operate it on California roads, you need testing twice per year as of 2024. That frequency increases to four times annually starting in 2028.
It doesn’t matter if you’re based in Manhattan Beach, running routes through Los Angeles, or driving in from Nevada. If the truck operates in California and meets the weight and model year criteria, CARB compliance is mandatory. The program affects approximately 1.8 million trucks, so you’re not alone in navigating this requirement.
CARB fines for non-compliance start at $1,000 per violation and can reach $10,000 per vehicle, per day depending on severity. Those aren’t maximum penalties that rarely get enforced. CARB actively pursues violations and collected over $21.5 million in 2022 from more than 8,000 enforcement cases.
Beyond direct fines, non-compliance triggers DMV registration holds. Your truck can’t be renewed or registered, which means it legally cannot operate. If California Highway Patrol catches a non-compliant truck during an inspection, they can pull it off the road immediately.
Shippers also face penalties for hiring non-compliant carriers, up to $10,000 for each year they used a non-compliant truck. That means you lose contracts because companies can’t risk the liability. The financial hit from lost work often exceeds the fines themselves. Getting tested costs a fraction of what non-compliance will run you.
You can submit passing CARB compliance tests up to 90 days before your deadline. That’s your testing window. If CARB sends you a notice to submit to testing, you have 30 days from that notice date to complete and submit a passing test.
The testing schedule started January 1, 2024, with trucks required to test twice per year. Your specific deadlines depend on your vehicle identification number and when CARB schedules your testing periods. You’ll receive notices from CARB telling you when testing is due.
Most operators in Manhattan Beach and throughout California find it easier to test early in the 90-day window rather than waiting until the deadline approaches. That gives you time to address any issues if your truck doesn’t pass on the first attempt. You get 30 days to fix problems and retest, but that buffer disappears if you wait until the last minute.
A CARB-certified smog check for heavy-duty vehicles is an OBD-based test. The tester connects a California Air Resources Board certified scanner to your truck’s onboard diagnostic port and pulls emissions data directly from the vehicle’s computer system.
The scan checks whether your emissions control equipment is working correctly. That includes your diesel particulate filter, selective catalytic reduction system, exhaust gas recirculation, and any other emissions components your truck is equipped with. The device also reads fault codes that indicate malfunctions or performance issues.
For 2013 and newer trucks over 14,000 pounds, this is a data scan, not a tailpipe test. The equipment reads what your truck’s sensors are reporting. If everything checks out and there are no active fault codes, you pass. Results get submitted to the CARB TRUCRS database, and you receive documentation proving compliance. The whole process typically takes 30 to 45 minutes if your truck is operating properly.
CARB compliance testing must be performed by a credentialed tester using CARB-certified equipment. Not every smog check station is set up for heavy-duty vehicle compliance testing. The tester needs to have completed California Air Resources Board training and passed the certification exam. The facility needs CARB-approved OBD testing devices designed for trucks over 14,000 pounds.
We meet those requirements at our Manhattan Beach location. Our testers are credentialed, our equipment is certified, and we’re authorized to submit results directly to the state TRUCRS database.
You can’t just take your semi truck to any smog shop and expect them to handle CARB diesel compliance. The equipment and training are different from standard passenger vehicle testing. Make sure wherever you go is specifically set up for heavy-duty vehicle compliance, or you’ll waste time and still need to find a qualified facility.
If your truck fails CARB emissions testing, you’ll receive a report detailing what triggered the failure. Common issues include active fault codes, malfunctioning emissions control components, or performance readings outside acceptable limits.
You have 30 days from the test date to repair the problem and retest. That’s a hard deadline. If you don’t submit a passing test within 30 days, CARB can flag your vehicle for enforcement action, which includes registration holds and potential fines.
Most failures are fixable. You might need a diesel particulate filter cleaning, a sensor replacement, or a software update. Sometimes it’s a minor issue that a qualified diesel mechanic can resolve quickly. Once repairs are complete, you return for retesting. If the truck passes, results get submitted to CARB and you’re back in compliance. The key is addressing failures immediately rather than letting the 30-day window run out.
Local Resources
Useful Links
Other Services we provide in Manhattan Beach
