Hear from Our Customers
You’re looking at fines up to $10,000 per vehicle per day if you’re not compliant. That’s not a scare tactic—that’s what CARB can hit you with starting October 1, 2024.
If your truck is model year 2013 or newer and weighs over 14,000 pounds GVWR, you need Clean Truck Check testing. Not eventually. Now. Because once the DMV puts a registration hold on your vehicle, you’re not moving freight. You’re not making money. You’re scrambling to fix something that should’ve been handled months ago.
The testing window gives you 90 days before your deadline to submit a passing test. That’s your buffer for repairs if something comes back flagged. But you only get 30 days after receiving a Notice to Submit to Testing. Miss that, and you’re facing enforcement action.
This isn’t about checking a box. It’s about keeping your operation running without interruption, without penalties, and without the stress of wondering if your next roadside inspection is going to cost you a day’s work.
We’ve been serving commercial trucking operations in Southern California for over 20 years. We’re not new to heavy-duty vehicle compliance, and we’re not learning the regulations as we go.
Our testers are CARB credentialed. That means they’ve completed the official CARB training program, passed the required exam with at least 80%, and use CARB certified OBD testing devices. Your compliance certificate gets submitted directly to the Clean Truck Check database—no delays, no errors, no second-guessing whether it went through.
Norco is a trucking hub. You know it, we know it. There are over 253 carriers shipping through this area, and we’ve built our operation around understanding what you’re up against—tight schedules, tight margins, and regulations that don’t care about either.
First, we verify your truck qualifies. Model year 2013 or newer, GVWR over 14,000 pounds. If it doesn’t meet both criteria, this program doesn’t apply to you.
Next, we connect to your truck’s onboard diagnostics system using CARB certified equipment. We’re pulling emission data directly from your engine control module. The test checks for fault codes, readiness monitors, and emission system performance. It’s not a visual inspection—it’s a data-driven compliance check.
If your truck passes, we submit the results to the CARB Clean Truck Check database that same day. You’ll receive a compliance certificate that’s valid until your next deadline. If something flags, we’ll walk you through what needs repair and how much time you have to fix it before retest.
You’ve got a 90-day window before your deadline to submit a passing test. That gives you time to address issues without panic. But once you get a Notice to Submit to Testing, you’re on a 30-day clock. We recommend coming in early—not because we need the business, but because repairs take time and you can’t afford downtime.
Ready to get started?
You’re paying for CARB credentialed testing performed by certified professionals who know the difference between a passing test and a compliance certificate that gets rejected. You’re paying for same-day database submission so your records are updated immediately. And you’re paying to avoid the kind of mistakes that lead to registration holds.
In Norco, CA, the trucking industry doesn’t have room for error. You’re operating in a state that’s aggressively enforcing emissions compliance because heavy-duty vehicles make up 3% of California’s fleet but cause over half of the smog-forming pollution. CARB isn’t backing down on this. They’re expecting to reduce NOx emissions by 81+ tons per day by 2037, and your truck is part of that equation.
Starting in 2025, you’ll need semi-annual testing. That’s twice a year, every year. The annual compliance fee is $31.18 per vehicle as of 2025. The testing requirement isn’t going away, and it’s not getting easier. What you need is a local provider who understands the regulations, processes your results correctly, and doesn’t waste your time.
Out-of-state trucks operating in California face the same requirements. If you’re running freight through Norco or anywhere else in the state, you’re subject to Clean Truck Check testing. Same deadlines, same penalties, same enforcement.
Yes. If your truck operates in California, it’s subject to the same Clean Truck Check requirements as California-registered vehicles. CARB doesn’t exempt out-of-state trucks from emissions compliance.
That means if you’re hauling freight through Norco, CA or any other part of the state, your model year 2013 or newer truck over 14,000 pounds GVWR needs testing. The deadlines apply to you. The penalties apply to you. And roadside enforcement applies to you.
You’ll need to register your vehicle in the CARB database and meet the same semi-annual testing schedule starting in 2025. If you’re based out of state but operate here regularly, plan your testing around your California routes. Missing a deadline because you’re not local isn’t an excuse CARB accepts.
If your truck fails, you’ll need to make repairs and come back for a retest. The good news is you have time—as long as you tested within the 90-day window before your deadline.
We’ll give you a detailed report showing what flagged. Usually it’s a fault code, a readiness monitor that isn’t set, or an emission system component that’s not performing to spec. You’ll need to take that to a qualified repair shop that works on heavy-duty diesel emissions systems.
Once repairs are done, bring the truck back for retest. If you’re still within your compliance window, you’re fine. But if you waited until the last minute and failed, you’re now racing the clock. That’s why we tell everyone to test early. It’s not about us getting your business twice—it’s about you having time to fix problems without facing penalties or registration holds.
Starting in 2025, you need testing twice a year. That’s semi-annual compliance, meaning you’ll have two deadlines every year based on your vehicle’s registration.
For 2024, you only need one test since the program just started October 1, 2024. But once we hit 2025, the schedule shifts to twice yearly. Your specific deadlines depend on your truck’s VIN and registration details, which CARB uses to assign compliance dates.
You can submit a passing test up to 90 days before your deadline. That’s your window to get ahead of it. If you receive a Notice to Submit to Testing from CARB, you have 30 days to submit a passing test. Miss that, and you’re looking at enforcement action.
Mark your deadlines now. Set reminders. This isn’t something you can skip or push off. CARB tracks compliance through the Clean Truck Check database, and the DMV will place a registration hold on non-compliant vehicles. That means no registration renewal until you’re compliant.
Regular smog checks are for passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks. Clean Truck Check is specifically for heavy-duty trucks—model year 2013 or newer with a GVWR over 14,000 pounds.
The testing process is different. Clean Truck Check uses onboard diagnostics to pull emission data directly from your engine control module. We’re not doing a tailpipe test. We’re checking fault codes, readiness monitors, and emission system performance through your truck’s computer.
The tester has to be CARB credentialed, which means they’ve completed specialized training and passed a CARB exam. Not every smog shop can do this testing. You need a facility with certified equipment and credentialed staff.
And the stakes are higher. A failed smog check on your personal car means you can’t renew registration. A failed Clean Truck Check on your commercial truck means potential fines up to $10,000 per day, registration holds, and possible roadside enforcement shutting down your operation. This isn’t a routine inspection—it’s a compliance requirement with serious financial consequences if you ignore it.
Yes. We handle fleet testing in Norco, CA. If you’re running multiple trucks that need CARB emissions testing, we can work with you to schedule vehicles efficiently.
Fleet operators face the same semi-annual deadlines for each truck, but those deadlines aren’t all on the same day. You’ll need to track compliance dates for every vehicle and plan testing accordingly. We can help you stay organized so you’re not scrambling when deadlines hit.
The compliance fee is $31.18 per vehicle annually as of 2025, and that’s separate from the testing cost. Multiply that across a fleet, and you’re looking at real money. But it’s nothing compared to the cost of non-compliance—$10,000 per vehicle per day adds up fast if CARB catches you operating without valid testing.
For local fleets in Norco, having a nearby testing provider matters. You’re not driving trucks across the county for compliance testing. You’re keeping vehicles in service and handling testing during scheduled maintenance windows. That’s how you stay compliant without losing operational time.
If your truck is model year 2012 or older, you’re exempt. If your truck’s GVWR is 14,000 pounds or less, you’re exempt. Both conditions have to apply—it’s not one or the other.
CARB designed this program specifically for newer heavy-duty trucks because those vehicles have advanced emission control systems that can be monitored through onboard diagnostics. Older trucks and lighter vehicles fall under different regulations or aren’t subject to this testing at all.
There are also exemptions for certain vehicle types like motorhomes, government vehicles, and some specialized equipment. But if you’re running a standard commercial semi truck or heavy-duty work truck from 2013 or newer over 14,000 pounds GVWR, you’re in the program.
Don’t assume you’re exempt without checking. CARB’s database tracks every vehicle subject to testing, and they’ll send you a Notice to Submit if you’re required to test. If you’re unsure whether your truck qualifies, bring your registration and we’ll verify it. Better to know now than find out during a roadside inspection.
Local Resources
Useful Links
Other Services we provide in Norco
