The California Air Resources Board has approved expanding its current five-minute idling limit to include sleeper berth use, beginning in 2008, according to information from the American Trucking Associations (ATA).
Once the new state regulation takes effect, alternatives to main engine idling will need to be used to supply cab heating, air conditioning, and power beyond five minutes. New trucks sold in California will also be required to include a five minute non-programmable shutdown device beginning in 2008.
Efforts by ATA and the California Trucking Association to oppose the regulation, including delaying the compliance deadline to allow more time to evaluate alternatives and establishing a funding mechanism to help offset a portion of the capital cost of these alternatives, were rejected by the board, ATA said.