What changed

CARB updated the Truck and Bus Regulation in February 2026, accelerating the phase-out of pre-2010 trucks. Beginning January 1, 2027, no truck with a model-year 2010 or older engine may operate in California unless retrofitted with a CARB-approved diesel particulate filter (DPF) or replaced with a 2010+ engine.

The rule applies to in-state and out-of-state carriers. CARB enforcement runs ANPR (automatic license plate recognition) at major California weigh stations and randomized roadside stops; non-compliant trucks face $1,000-per-day penalty plus impound risk.

Who this affects

Carriers with 2010 or older trucks that drop loads in California should plan replacement or retrofit before January 1, 2027. The DPF retrofit cost runs $15,000 to $25,000 per truck; the 2010+ engine swap is comparable.

Out-of-state carriers occasionally running into CA may want to dedicate a 2010+ subset of their fleet to CA traffic and keep the older trucks on east-of-California routes only.

How to verify compliance

CARB maintains a TRUCRS (Truck Regulation Upload, Compliance, and Reporting System) at carb.ca.gov where each truck must be registered. An active TRUCRS entry showing 2010+ engine year or approved retrofit is the practical compliance proof.

A truck without an active TRUCRS entry is treated as non-compliant by CARB enforcement officers regardless of actual engine year - register every truck that crosses into CA.

What to do next

Inventory your fleet by engine year. Trucks 2010 or older that run CA routes need a plan: retrofit, replace, or restrict to non-CA operations. The 2027 compliance deadline gives 11 months but the retrofit market is already constrained - book early.