Hear from Our Customers
Your trucks stay registered. That’s the bottom line.
Starting January 1, 2025, California’s Clean Truck Check program requires semi-annual emissions testing for most heavy-duty diesel vehicles. Miss a deadline or fail to submit, and the DMV puts a hold on your registration. That means trucks sitting idle, loads getting delayed, and revenue disappearing while you scramble to fix it.
When you’re compliant, none of that happens. Your fleet operates without interruption. You’re not dealing with penalty notices, last-minute testing appointments, or wondering if your plates will renew. You submit your results twice a year—four times starting in 2027 for OBD-equipped trucks—and you move on.
The testing itself takes 15 to 30 minutes per truck. We come to you, plug into the OBD system, run the diagnostics, and upload results directly to CARB’s database. You get confirmation that you’re in the system, and your trucks stay on the road.
All SMOG Motors is a CARB-credentialed mobile testing service operating throughout Pomona and the Inland Empire. We focus exclusively on heavy-duty diesel compliance for trucks with a GVWR over 14,000 pounds and model year 2013 or newer engines.
That’s not a limitation—it’s intentional. These are the exact vehicles California’s Clean Truck Check program targets, and we’ve built our process around getting them tested quickly and correctly.
Pomona sits in the heart of one of the busiest freight corridors in the country. Trucks moving through Ontario, Fontana, Riverside, and Rialto don’t have time to drive to a testing facility and wait. We bring the equipment to your yard, warehouse, or terminal and handle it on-site. Our technicians are trained and certified through CARB’s official testing program, and our equipment meets SAE J1667 specifications—the same standard enforcement uses.
You schedule a time. We show up with the testing equipment.
Our technician connects to your truck’s OBD port and runs a diagnostic check. The system pulls data on emissions controls, engine performance, and any fault codes. For most 2013 and newer diesel trucks, this is a straightforward OBD test. If your truck doesn’t have OBD capability, we perform an opacity test using equipment that conforms to CARB mobile source enforcement standards.
The test takes 15 to 30 minutes. If everything checks out, we upload the passing results directly to CARB’s database. You get a confirmation, and that truck is compliant for the next six months. If the system shows “not ready” or flags an issue, we’ll retest at no charge once you’ve addressed it.
There’s no waiting room. No dropping off trucks. No coordinating transportation to a facility. You tell us where your trucks are, and we handle the rest. If you’ve got a fleet, we can test multiple vehicles in one visit and keep everything on a schedule so you’re never late on a submission deadline.
Ready to get started?
If you operate a heavy-duty diesel truck with a GVWR over 14,000 pounds and a 2013 or newer engine in California, you’re required to submit emissions test results twice a year. That applies whether your truck is registered in California or not—if it operates on public roads here, it’s subject to Clean Truck Check.
The first compliance deadline is January 1, 2025. After that, you’ll need to test every six months. Starting October 1, 2027, trucks equipped with OBD systems will need to test four times per year.
Pomona and the surrounding Inland Empire handle a massive volume of freight traffic. Trucks running between distribution centers in Fontana, Ontario, and Riverside are constantly moving, and downtime is expensive. The state knows this. That’s why they’ve made OBD testing the standard—it’s faster than manual inspections, which used to take one to three hours per vehicle and cost $300 to $900 in downtime.
If you don’t submit test results on time, the DMV will place a registration hold on your vehicle. You won’t be able to renew your plates, and technically, that truck isn’t supposed to be on the road. If you’re caught operating out of compliance, penalties start at $10,000 per vehicle per day.
Our service covers the testing and submission. You don’t have to log into CARB’s system or track deadlines manually. We handle the upload, and you get documentation that you’re compliant.
Yes. If your truck operates on California roads, it’s subject to Clean Truck Check requirements regardless of where it’s registered.
CARB’s program applies to almost all heavy-duty diesel and diesel-hybrid vehicles with a GVWR over 14,000 pounds. The key factor isn’t registration—it’s operation. If you’re running loads through California, even occasionally, you’re required to comply.
Out-of-state operators sometimes assume they’re exempt, but that’s not how the regulation works. California has enforcement authority over any commercial vehicle using its highways, and they’ve made compliance a condition of operating here. If you’re moving freight through Pomona, Ontario, or anywhere else in the state, you need to submit test results on the same schedule as California-registered trucks.
If your truck fails or shows a “not ready” status, you’ll need to address the issue before we can submit a passing result to CARB.
A failure usually means there’s a fault code or emissions control problem that needs repair. “Not ready” means the OBD system hasn’t completed its monitoring cycle—this can happen if the truck hasn’t been driven enough after a recent repair or battery disconnect.
We don’t charge you for a retest once the issue is fixed. If your truck fails, we’ll walk you through what the diagnostic found so you know exactly what needs attention. Once you’ve made the repair or completed the drive cycle, we’ll come back and retest at no additional cost. The goal is to get you compliant, not to rack up testing fees every time something doesn’t pass on the first try.
Schedule at least two weeks before your compliance deadline. That gives you time to address any issues if the truck doesn’t pass on the first attempt.
Most trucks pass without problems, but if yours flags a fault code or needs a repair, you’ll want buffer time to fix it and retest before the deadline hits. Waiting until the last few days puts you at risk of missing the submission window, and that’s when DMV holds and penalties start to apply.
We can usually accommodate same-day or next-day appointments, but availability tightens up as deadlines approach. If you’ve got a fleet, spacing out your tests throughout the compliance period makes more sense than trying to test everything in the final week. We’ll work with you to set up a schedule that keeps all your trucks compliant without creating a bottleneck.
Yes. We have TSA clearance to access airport and port terminals, so we can test trucks at secured locations.
A lot of mobile testers can’t get into these facilities, which creates a problem if your trucks are staged at ONT, the Port of LA, or other restricted sites. We’ve gone through the clearance process specifically so we can reach trucks wherever they’re located.
If your operation runs through these terminals, you don’t need to move trucks off-site just to get them tested. We’ll coordinate with your team and facility security to schedule testing during a time that works. It’s the same process—OBD diagnostic, results uploaded to CARB—but without the hassle of relocating equipment or dealing with access restrictions.
OBD testing reads data directly from your truck’s onboard diagnostic system. Opacity testing measures visible smoke from the exhaust. CARB requires OBD testing for most 2013 and newer trucks.
If your truck is equipped with an OBD system, that’s the test we’ll run. It’s faster, more accurate, and pulls data on emissions controls, fault codes, and system readiness. The test takes 15 to 30 minutes, and results upload immediately.
Opacity testing is used for trucks that don’t have OBD capability. We use equipment that meets SAE J1667 standards—the same spec CARB enforcement uses—and measure the density of exhaust smoke under load. It’s a less common test now because most newer trucks have OBD, but it’s still required for certain vehicles. Either way, we’re equipped to handle both.
CARB keeps the official record once we upload your results, but you should keep your own documentation for your files.
When we complete a test, you’ll receive confirmation that the results were submitted to CARB’s database. That’s your proof of compliance. If you ever get pulled over or audited, you can reference that submission.
It’s smart to keep a folder—digital or physical—with test dates, results, and confirmation numbers for each truck in your fleet. CARB’s system is the source of truth, but having your own records makes it easier to track when each vehicle is due for its next test. We can also send you reminders if you want help staying on top of deadlines, but ultimately, compliance is your responsibility. We just make the testing part easier.
Local Resources
Useful Links
Other Services we provide in Pomona
