Hear from Our Customers
You’re not wondering if the DMV is going to freeze your registration next month. You’re not calculating how many days of fines you can afford before it bankrupts the operation. You’re not getting turned away at the port because your truck failed to meet California CARB compliance requirements.
You’re running your routes. Your trucks are cleared to operate anywhere in California without restriction. Your registrations renew on time, and you’re not scrambling to find a CARB certified smog check facility at the last minute because someone finally told you about the Clean Truck Check program.
That’s what compliance actually gets you. Not a certificate to frame—freedom to operate without the constant threat of penalties that can reach $10,000 per vehicle per day. Commerce sits right in the middle of major freight corridors, and every day you’re non-compliant is a day you’re gambling with your livelihood.
All SMOG Motors isn’t your typical smog shop trying to handle everything that rolls through the door. We specialize in CARB HD I/M testing for commercial trucks—the ones that actually fall under California’s Clean Truck Check regulations. That means 2013 and newer diesel engines, and 2018 and newer alternative fuel engines with a GVWR over 14,000 pounds.
We’re CARB-credentialed, which means we have the certification and equipment to perform OBD testing on heavy-duty vehicles and transmit results directly to the California Air Resources Board. We’ve been serving Commerce and the surrounding area because this is where the freight moves—and we know what’s at stake when your trucks can’t.
If your truck doesn’t meet those specs, we’ll tell you upfront. We’re not here to waste your time or ours.
First, we verify your truck qualifies—2013 or newer diesel, or 2018 or newer alternative fuel, over 14,000 pounds GVWR. If it doesn’t meet those criteria, the Clean Truck Check program doesn’t apply to your vehicle yet. If it does, we move forward.
We connect to your truck’s onboard diagnostics system using a CARB-certified OBD testing device. The scan pulls data directly from your engine’s computer—fault codes, emissions system performance, readiness monitors. For most newer diesel trucks, this process is relatively fast compared to older testing methods.
Once the test is complete, we transmit the results electronically to CARB through the CTC-VIS portal. You get a copy for your records. If your truck passes, you’re compliant for the required period. If it fails, we offer 50% off retests after you’ve made the necessary repairs, and we’ll help you understand what needs to be fixed. We also provide free assistance with CTC-VIS portal registration if you haven’t set that up yet—most owner-operators and small fleets in Commerce haven’t, and it’s required.
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This is CARB diesel compliance testing for commercial vehicles operating in California—specifically those subject to the state’s Clean Truck Check regulations. You’re required to test once in your first year of compliance, twice in the second year, and four times annually by the third year. The requirements escalate, and so do the consequences if you ignore them.
Commerce is a major hub for freight activity in Southern California. With facilities like UPS Freight operating locally and proximity to the ports, your trucks need to meet California CARB compliant standards or you’re locked out of work. The DMV started placing registration holds in August 2024 on vehicles that haven’t passed their Clean Truck Check inspection. That means no renewal until you’re compliant.
We handle the OBD scan, results transmission, and compliance documentation. You can submit passing tests up to 90 days before your deadline, which gives you time to address any issues before they become expensive emergencies. The testing applies to nearly all diesel and alternative fuel heavy-duty vehicles over 14,000 pounds operating on California public roads—even if they’re registered out of state. If you’re running through Commerce, you’re subject to these rules.
If your truck is a 2013 or newer diesel engine, or a 2018 or newer alternative fuel engine, and it has a gross vehicle weight rating over 14,000 pounds, yes—it needs a Clean Truck Check if it operates on California public roads. This applies even if your truck is registered in another state.
The program started phased enforcement in October 2024. The requirements increase over time: one test in the first year, two in the second, and four tests annually by the third year. If you’re hauling freight in or through Commerce, you’re operating in one of the most scrutinized areas in the state for emissions compliance.
If your truck is older than 2013 (or 2018 for alternative fuel), it’s not subject to Clean Truck Check yet—but it may still fall under other CARB truck regulations. We only perform Clean Truck Check testing for the newer OBD-equipped vehicles that fall under the current program requirements.
You’re looking at fines up to $10,000 per vehicle per day for non-compliance. That’s not a scare tactic—that’s the penalty structure CARB has established. The DMV will also place a registration hold on your vehicle, which means you can’t renew your registration until you’re compliant.
Beyond the fines and registration issues, non-compliant trucks can be denied access to ports, railyards, and certain freight terminals. In Commerce, where proximity to major logistics hubs is the whole point of operating here, that’s a death sentence for your business. You’re not just risking a fine—you’re risking your ability to work.
The enforcement is real and it’s already happening. DMV holds started in August 2024, and CARB is actively checking compliance, especially for fleets operating in high-traffic freight areas like Commerce. Waiting until you get caught is the most expensive way to handle this.
For 2013 and newer diesel trucks with OBD systems, the actual test is relatively fast—usually under 30 minutes for the scan and data transmission. We’re not doing a full traditional smog test with a dynamometer. We’re pulling data directly from your truck’s computer.
The timeline can stretch if your truck isn’t ready for testing—meaning the OBD system shows “not ready” status on certain monitors. That usually happens after a recent repair or if the battery was disconnected. In those cases, you’ll need to drive the truck through a specific cycle to reset the monitors before we can complete the test.
We transmit results to CARB electronically as soon as the test is done, and you get your documentation immediately. If you’re scheduling around tight delivery windows in Commerce, we can work with your timing. The test itself won’t eat up your whole day, but you do need to plan ahead—especially as you get closer to your compliance deadline.
You can get a Clean Truck Check done at any CARB-credentialed testing facility in California—it doesn’t have to be in Commerce specifically. But you do need to make sure the facility is actually credentialed for HD I/M testing and has the equipment to handle heavy-duty OBD scans. Not every smog shop does.
We’re located in Commerce, which makes us convenient if you’re running routes through the area or if your trucks are based locally. A lot of owner-operators and small fleets in Commerce prefer to work with a local tester who understands the freight industry and the specific compliance pressures you’re under.
The key is finding a tester who specializes in commercial vehicles and knows the Clean Truck Check program inside and out. You don’t want to show up somewhere only to find out they can’t actually perform the test or don’t know how to navigate the CTC-VIS portal. We handle this testing daily, and we’ll walk you through the whole process—including portal registration if you haven’t done that yet.
If your truck fails, you’ll get a detailed report showing which fault codes or emissions system issues caused the failure. You’ll need to get those issues repaired before you can retest and achieve compliance. We offer 50% off retests after repairs, so you’re not paying full price twice.
The good news is you can submit passing tests up to 90 days before your compliance deadline. That gives you a buffer to identify problems, get repairs done, and retest without the pressure of an immediate deadline. Most failures are related to emissions system malfunctions—things like faulty sensors, DPF issues, or SCR system problems.
Once repairs are complete, bring the truck back and we’ll run the test again. If it passes, we transmit the results to CARB and you’re compliant for the required period. If you’re operating in Commerce and your truck fails, don’t wait—every day you’re non-compliant after your deadline is another day of potential fines and registration holds.
Yes, you’re required to register with the Clean Truck Check Vehicle Inspection System (CTC-VIS) portal as part of the compliance process. It’s how CARB tracks your testing history and compliance status. Most owner-operators and small fleets in Commerce haven’t done this yet because the program is relatively new and the portal isn’t exactly intuitive.
We provide free assistance with CTC-VIS registration. We’ll walk you through setting up your account, entering your vehicle information, and understanding how to track your compliance deadlines. It’s not complicated once you know what you’re doing, but it’s one more administrative task that can trip you up if you’re trying to figure it out on your own.
Once you’re registered and we complete your test, the results feed directly into the portal and CARB has a record of your compliance. You’ll also be able to see when your next test is due and track your testing history. If you’re managing multiple trucks, the portal becomes essential for staying on top of deadlines across your fleet.
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