Reminder: Keep All Your Forklifts Up to CARB Code
Fall is coming fast. Soon some of us will begin the holiday shipping and distribution rush. Time will get away from us. Schedules will fill up with big orders.
So NOW is the time to make sure your forklift fleets are in compliance with California's Air Resource Board (CARB) Code. That way you won't have to take up valuable time later...or worse, pay expensive fines if you're out of compliance when an inspector drops by.
What is CARB?
The California Air Resource Board (CARB) is a division of the California Environmental Protection Agency. CARB's goal is to maintain California's clean air. You can find their website at http://arb.ca.gov/.
CARB has established air quality standards, which all businesses using 3 or more lift trucks must follow. You are responsible for keeping your trucks well-maintained, so they will stay within state emissions standards while operating.
For all industries using forklifts and other material handling equipment, CARB regulations are a very big consideration. Cromer is aware of the regulations, and we know how to help you stay in compliance.
What happens if your forklifts aren't up to code?
Failure to meet CARB code may result in fines. If CARB inspectors stop by and find your business in violation, they can levy fines of up to $500 per day until you're in compliance.
Severe violations may even prevent you from operating your business, requiring you to pay a settlement first. These settlements & fines can be very high!
For example:
- Foster Enterprises was fined $300,000 in December 2012 for excessive diesel exhaust emissions.
- JLV Transport, LLC paid a $17,100 settlement in July 2013. They made changes to their refrigerated fleet, but failed to update the operator report within 30 days. Plus they didn't properly self-inspect their diesel trucks to meet state smoke emission standards.
- The San Joaquin Regional Transit District received a $35,000 fine for failing to comply with State air emissions requirements for its buses.
- Fines from $10,000 to $120,000 for failure to supply complete emissions information by the appropriate deadlines, against 9 energy & construction companies in late 2012.
How to determine your forklifts' code compliance
(And what to do if they aren't!)
A quick way to tell if your forklifts are operating within CARB code (or if they're not) is to use an emissions calculator. ARB has resources for these on their website.
If you find your forklifts' emissions results show you're not up to CARB Code (or are in danger of failing compliance), call us for help!
Most of the time returning a forklift to CARB compliance is easy, with some light maintenance. Emissions Diagnostics are part of our Major Interval Service and Fleet Maintenance Service.
Cromer is also happy to provide you with rental forklifts in the meantime.
If a forklift is too worn down for maintenance to be cost-effective, we'll help you replace it with a clean electric lift truck. Zero emissions - instant CARB compliance!
Cromer Material Handling does not want to see ANY of our customers facing CARB fines. Let's all stay up to code with a little preventative work.