The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on October 16 announced it had settled with three trucking companies for violating the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Truck and Bus Regulation.
Roadrunner Transportation Systems Inc. (OTC: RRTS) was fined $117,000 for operating heavy-duty diesel vehicles that lacked the diesel particulate filters required by the regulation, and operating unregistered and noncompliant drayage trucks.
The company also hired carriers to transport goods in California without verifying that the vehicles complied with the Truck and Bus rule, and dispatched drayage trucks without required record-keeping.
As part of the settlement, Roadrunner also agreed to use compliant trucks.
Ruan Transportation Management Systems Inc. operated heavy-duty diesel trucks in California lacking the required diesel particulate filters.
Ruan also failed to verify that the carriers it hired to transport goods in California complied with the Truck and Bus Regulation. Ruan is the first company cited by EPA for failing to timely meet specified particulate matter emission reductions in transport refrigeration equipment under state of California requirements.
As part of the settlement, the company will pay a $125,000 civil penalty and will use compliant trucks.
The Boise Cascade Co. failed to verify that the carriers it hired to transport goods in California complied with the Truck and Bus rule. The company will pay a $175,000 civil penalty and has agreed to use compliant trucks.
“As trucks are one of the largest sources of air pollution in California, EPA will continue to ensure these heavy-duty vehicles have the needed pollution-control equipment and operate in compliance with the rules,” EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator John Busterud said in a statement.
“These companies have agreed to bring their trucks into compliance and operate more cleanly in all communities they serve.”
Although California and the EPA under the Trump Administration are at odds over several clean vehicle regulations, CARB partners with the EPA on the federally enforceable Truck and Bus rule.
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