California Regulatory Changes

The CalCAP Heavy-Duty Vehicle Air Quality Loan Program (more commonly known as "Truck Loan Assistance") came to an end July 31, 2023, leaving small fleets without state assistance for the financing of internal combustion engine (ICE) trucks. But CARB’s efforts to reduce emissions in California continue.

The Truck and Bus Regulation required fleets to operate vehicles with a 2010 or newer engine, or risk having their registration denied by the DMV. The Truck and Bus Rule's Model Year Schedule ended in January 2023, and CARB is now shifting its resources to zero emission technology initiatives. One such initiative is the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation, which allows for a "phasing out" of older vehicles with specific mileage reporting deadlines as noted in the Useful Life Matrix for Drayage Trucks.

Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF)

Simply put, this means that port operators in California have until December 31, 2023, to upgrade to any new "ICE" vehicle and continue to operate in the ports through 2034. After January 1, 2035, all drayage trucks are required to be zero-emission vehicles (ZEV).

CARB has already launched ZEV grant programs and will soon launch a program to support financing of heavy duty zero emission trucks. Commercial equipment lenders like Crossroads are well suited to assist fleets with these critical transitions. Crossroads, the leading on-road CalCAP lender, has helped thousands of fleets and operators upgrade their equipment and remain CARB compliant.

If you are thinking about upgrading your trucks, give us a call – we can help guide you through the maze of available government support and figure out how to cost-effectively replace your equipment or grow your fleet. We can also assist you with trailer leasing, business acquisition, refinancing, commercial real estate, working capital and more.

Harbor Trucking Association

Crossroads is both a member and a silver sponsor of the Harbor Trucking Association, a coalition of Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle, and Tacoma intermodal carriers moving America's Cargo. HTA's purpose is to advocate, educate and promote strategies with other goods movement stakeholders and policy makers that will sustain emission reductions, provide a dialog for intermodal truck efficiency, and to return cargo and jobs to America’s west coast ports. HTA's Trucker Advantage Program is specially designed to help small fleets become better entrepreneurs.