01/30/2026
With the recent EPA ruling there are some questions being raised, as of now this is what still remains:
What it DID change
The Environmental Protection Agency said California cannot force other states to adopt California’s testing program at the federal planning level
It limits federal enforcement against out-of-state trucks, not California’s own state enforcement
What it did NOT change
California (through California Air Resources Board) can still require emissions compliance for trucks operating inside California
CARB can still enforce:
emissions standards
required registrations
documentation (like Clean Truck Check / HD I/M compliance)
fines and penalties for non-compliance
Bottom line: The EPA hasn’t eliminated CARB testing for heavy trucks — it just constrained how that state rule applies under federal law. If a truck is operating in California, you still need CARB compliance and testing
