California finalizes amendments to the In-Use Off-Road Diesel-Fueled Fleets Regulation
23 August 2023
The California Office of Administrative Law (OAL) approved Amendments to the In-Use Off-Road Diesel-Fueled Fleets Regulation. The effective date of the amended regulation is October 1, 2023.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved the Amendments in November 2022. The main provisions of the Amendments include:
- Phase-out of the oldest off‑road engines from operation in California—Tier 2 and MY2003 or older onroad engines must be phased-out from large/medium/small/ultra-small fleets in 2028/30/32/36, respectively.
- Restrictions on the addition of older engines to the fleet—Vehicles with Tier 3/4i and MY2006 or older on-road engines cannot be added to a fleet from 2024/28/35 for large & medium/small/ultra-small fleets, respectively.
- All fleets must use R99 or R100 Renewable Diesel fuel starting January 1, 2024.
Exemptions. The regulation does not apply to locomotives, commercial marine vessels, marine engines, recreational off-highway vehicles, combat and tactical support equipment, stationary equipment, specific portable engines, or to off-road diesel vehicles owned and operated by individuals for personal, non-commercial, and non-governmental uses. Furthermore, equipment or vehicles exclusively used in agricultural operations, implements of husbandry, and certain equipment governed by the Truck and Bus Regulation, the Fleet Rule for Public Agencies and Utilities, and the Regulation for Mobile Cargo Handling Equipment at Ports and Intermodal Rail Yards, are not affected by the regulation.
Exemptions from the renewable diesel requirements have been granted for fleets composed entirely of Tier 4 final equipment, MY2010 or newer on-road engines, zero emission vehicles (ZEV), and fleets operating in captive attainment regions. Fleets are also permitted to use specific low-temperature diesel fuels during the winter months of November through February if they are located or operate in areas where January’s 10th percentile minimum ambient air temperature dips below 20°F (-6.7°C). Outside of winter months, the same allowance applies whenever temperatures fall below 20°F.
Source: CARB