No Idling… Your Refer Unit?
Truckers have had to comply with environmental regulations around the country by shutting off their engines (anti-idling laws), paying more for supposedly more environmentally friendly truck engines in newer trucks, and switching over from low sulfur diesel to ultra-low sulfur diesel. Now truckers who run refrigerated trailers (trailers that can be temperature controlled through use of a refer unit) are up against more anti-diesel legislation from the state of California. Of course.
The way things are going, we’re pretty sure APU/generators will be next on the chopping block…
Officially referred to as the TRU ATCM (Transportation Refrigerated Units Airborne Toxic Control Measure), the refer (TRU) law was put into place in December of 2004. The law affects not just truckers and trucking companies, but also shippers and receivers of refrigerated goods. Starting January 2006, these facilities were required to provide documentation about their businesses and the trucks that ship from or deliver there.
Since California can’t just tell truckers to stop idling their refer units, they’ve decided to simply make things miserable. For owners and operators of trailers with TRUs (such as Thermo King or any other refer unit), you’ll have to list each TRU and provide information such as engine number, serial number, model year and horsepower rating. You’ll need to group the TRUs into two horsepower categories- less than 25 hp and 25 hp or more. Then, within the categories, you’ll need to see how many units from each model year you have.
Engines must meet emissions standards on a rolling basis. The oldest engines must meet emissions standards the earliest. And this progresses with age- new engines don’t have to meet emissions standards as soon as older units do. Units Ultimately, they are encouraging owners of TRUs to scrap old units and replace them with new ones. Makes you wonder if they’re in bed with the manufacturers.
Compliance dates range from the end of 2008 to 2016. Any model year 2001 TRU must meet California’s low emissions standard by December 2008 and the ultra-low emissions standard by December 2015. Any model year 2002 TRU must meet the low emission standard by December 2009 and the ultra-low emissions standard by December 2016. Any model year 2003 TRU must meet the ultra-low emissions standard (low emissions doesn’t apply) by December 2010. Basically, any model year must meet California’s ultra-low emissions standard after 7 years in service.
The low emissions standard requires a 50% reduction in particulate matter. The Ultra-Low emissions standard requires an 85% reduction in particulate matter.
All this listing, categorizing and keeping track of acronyms (TRU ATCM, LETRU, ULETRU, VDECS, IDN…) is going to cause a lot of headaches. And the bottom line is- this is going to cost a lot of truckers (and others in the industry) a lot of money. We’re beginning to think that maybe California doesn’t need truckers to deliver their goods anymore. Perhaps, if their motives remain pure, their products and supplies will show up through osmosis. But then, we’re sure that osmosis will threaten someones health somewhere.
More resources:
California Air Resources Board FAQ Brochure
How to Comply with the TRU ATCM
California Air Resources Board Website
30th, 2007 at 1:56 am
There is as well an additional insult to not just reefers but owners of APUs.
There is a requirement that ALL TRUCK REEFER AND APU OWNERS install a Diesel Smoke Particulate Filter in addition or in place of the current Exhaust measures installed by the Manufacturer.
Somehow this new “law” will be enforced at the states line.
If these Filters are not installed at the OWNERS expense naturally, then OWNERS are subjected to Fines and other negatives because as we all know, Diesel Smoke is so harmful and Trucking is such a money making “profession”.
Now one can “professionally” install devices that are somehow going to help rid the environments of Air Pollution.
4Wheelers however are exempt form ANY new Exhaust Filtering rules and since there are SUBSTANTIALLY more of them, well that’s the logic for ya.
–Either conform to the ensuing “regulations” against Trucking or cease going into California.
7th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
I intend to require all my clients to provide me with a hotel room every time it will be necessary to shut the truck down for mandatory rest periods. The addition of extra equipment onto reefer units is just going to be passed down the line to the end consumer……oranges might end up costing 10 bucks a pound.
Today’s Albuquerque Journal had an article about similar regulations being imposed in New Mexico (see the message boards)
I am glad to see that all crime has been eliminated so that law enforcement can be reassigned to using stop watches on idling trucks.