California Air Resources Board

School Districts are subject to State and Federal regulations for a range of vehicles and equipment that they may own and operate. Examples include school buses, trucks, utility vehicles, maintenance and landscape equipment and vehicles, and more. In general, CARB defines vehicles by their gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), whether their intended purpose was for on-road or off-road, and the type of fuel they use to operate (e.g. diesel, gasoline, propane). Listed below are the CARB regulations affecting different vehicle and equipment types. The information is intended to assist school districts in learning about compliance requirements and where to find additional information. CARB offers training classes in-person and online for many of the regulations a school district may be subject to.

On-Road Vehicles: School Buses and Trucks

School buses, as defined by California Vehicle Code section 545, and heavy-duty trucks are subject to several CARB regulations for both privately-owned and publicly-owned vehicles.

Diesel-fueled only:

• School bus compliance requirements:
  1. Truck and Bus Regulation if over 14,000 lbs. GVWR; and
  2. Idling Limits if over 10,001 lbs. GVWR; and
  3. Periodic Smoke Inspection Program if over 6,000 lbs. GVWR.
• Trucks and other vehicle types have the same compliance requirements as school buses, see above, and additionally:
  1. the Public Agency and Utility Regulation if over 14,000 lbs. GVWR and owned/operated by a public school district.

Any fuel:

• The vehicle has idling limitations in school zones per the School Bus Idling Limitation.
• CARB is now undertaking efforts to develop a Heavy-Duty Inspection and Maintenance (HD I/M) program to ensure that emissions control systems on heavy-duty vehicles are properly functioning and remain low-emitting throughout their entire operating life. 

Off-Road Vehicles:  Diesel and Electric Engines

Diesel-fueled:

• The Off-Road Regulation applies to all self-propelled off-road diesel vehicles 25 horsepower or greater used in California and most two-engine vehicles. This includes vehicles that are rented or leased.

Large-Spark Ignition:

• The Large Spark-Ignition Engine Fleet Requirements Regulation applies to operators of forklifts, sweeper/scrubbers, industrial tow tractors, and airport ground support equipment.

Portable Equipment

The Portable Equipment Registration Program (PERP) is a voluntary statewide program to register portable equipment such as air compressors, generators, concrete pumps, tub grinders, wood chippers, water pumps, drill rigs, pile drivers, rock drills, abrasive blasters, aggregate screening and crushing plants, and concrete batch plants. With certain limited exceptions, including a determination by a local air district that a permit is required for operation at a given location, portable equipment registered in PERP may operate throughout the state without obtaining permits from any of California's 35 air quality management or air pollution control districts (air districts).