WORLD CLASS TRAINING

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  • WORLD CLASS TRAINING – As we always say, a trained driver is an effective and productive driver. California Tow Truck Association offers incredible training opportunities through the Emergency Road Service Coalition of America (ERSCA) platform at discounted rates for our members. 
  • Intro to Towing – Excellent online entry level training for new operators onboarding/orientation.
    • Essentials of Standard Duty Towing & Recovery – Outstanding training program for all drivers who operate any towing or service unit under 26,000 lbs.  Meets the TSAAC/CHP requirements for Operators working with the motoring public under the direction of the California Highway Patrol along with local law enforcement agencies and many of the motor clubs. 
    • Electric Vehicles – New for 2024.  No prerequisite however those who have taken Essentials of Standard Duty Towing & Recovery and have a current certificate, this will qualify as continuing education and will be issued a certificate that meets the TSAAC/CHP requirements.
    • Advanced Winch & Rigging Safety for Standard Duty – New for 2024.  No prerequisite however those who have taken Essentials of Standard Duty Towing & Recovery and have a current certificate, this will qualify as continuing education and will be issued a certificate that meets the TSAAC/CHP requirements.
    • Essentials of Heavy Duty Towing & Recovery – For operators who operate towing units above 26,000 GVW.  Commercial License or Permit are the only prerequisite requirements.  Meets the TSAAC/CHP requirements for Operators working with the motoring public under the direction of the California Highway Patrol along with local law enforcement agencies and many of the motor clubs.
    • Advanced Winch & Rigging Safety for Heavy Duty – New for 2024.  Commercial License or Permit is the only prerequisite requirements.  Operators who have taken Essentials of Heavy-Duty Towing & Recovery and have a current certificate, this will qualify as continuing education and will be issued a certificate that meets the TSAAC/CHP requirements.
    • Electronic Certificates – for all training events that meet the TSAAC/CHP requirements.  These certificates are QR code protected so the receiver can verify the issuance and expiration can be validated.

Our training platform along with additional information is located at the Emergency Road Service Coalition of America (ERSCA) Website – www.ersca.org.

CARB Clean Truck Check Compliance Begins January 1, 2024

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Beginning on January 1, 2024, all heavy-duty vehicles operating in California will need proof of compliance with the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Clean Truck Check regulations to continue operating in the state. Vehicles must be registered in the Clean Truck Check database by December 31st, 2023, which is found here: https://cleantruckcheck.arb.ca.gov/

Clean Truck Check, formerly known as the Heavy-Duty Inspection and Maintenance Program, was approved by CARB in 2021 to test heavy-duty vehicles’ emissions control systems for proper operation. Nearly all diesel and alternative fuel vehicles over 14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating that operate in California, including personal vehicles, will be required to comply.

Clean Truck Check is being implemented in three phases.

Phase 1, which started January 1, 2023, began with the deployment of Remote Emissions Monitoring Devices (REMD) to monitor the exhaust emissions of passing heavy-duty vehicles and flag potential high emitters that may receive a Notice to Submit to Testing (NST).  NST’s require vehicle owners to submit a passing compliance test to CARB after any necessary emissions-related repairs are made within 30 days of receipt of the notice.

Phase 2, which started October 1st, 2023, requires vehicle owners who are subject to the program to enter their vehicles in CARB’s Clean Truck Check database and pay an initial annual compliance fee of $30 per vehicle by December 31st, 2023.  Starting January 1, 2024, all trucks driving in California will need proof of compliance with these requirements to continue operating in the state. Operating in California without registration in the compliance database could result in violations from CARB and/or the CHP.

Phase 3, which starts January 1, 2024, and applies to all compliance deadlines after July 1, 2024, requires heavy-duty vehicle owners to conduct periodic emissions testing on their vehicles, similar to California’s Smog Check program for cars.  Per CARB, for 2024 only, all vehicles subject to semiannual compliance testing will be required to test and submit results to CARB one time.  Starting in 2025, these vehicles will have semiannual compliance deadlines (two each year, one every six months).  In three years, this testing requirement will jump to four times a year. 

For California-registered vehicles, the due dates, called compliance testing deadlines, are linked to each vehicle’s DMV registration expiration/renewal date. Passing test results may be submitted up to 90 days before a compliance deadline (so, as early as April 2024).

Testing requirements vary based on whether the vehicle is equipped with onboard diagnostics (OBD).  OBD-equipped vehicles are required to undergo a scan of the engines’ OBD data using a CARB-validated OBD test device. Non-OBD vehicles are required to undergo a smoke opacity test and a visual inspection of the vehicle’s emissions control equipment, referred to in this program as the Vehicle Emissions Control Equipment Inspection. The smoke opacity test is the same SAE J1667 snap acceleration smoke inspection used to comply with CARB’s Periodic Smoke Inspection Program (PSIP).

Clean Truck Check program information can be found here: https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/heavy-duty-inspection-and-maintenance-program

CHP Grants CTTA’s Request for 150 Air-Mile ELD Exemption for Intrastate Drivers

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The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is now allowing California’s intrastate drivers to utilize the federal 150 air-mile “short haul” exemption to avoid Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs).

CTTA, through its Towing Regulatory Oversight Council (T-ROC), has been advocating the CHP for the past several years to extend California’s current short-haul 100 air-mileage radius exception to 150 air-miles, consistent with federal law, in order to exempt such short-haul drivers from the ELD requirement.  CTTA is grateful and pleased to see the CHP now adopt this policy.   

As quick background, effective January 1, 2024, the CHP required ELD use by all intrastate drivers who are required to prepare hours-of-service (HOS) records of duty status (RODS), unless an exemption applies (interstate carriers have been subject to ELD requirements since 2017).  Further information on the ELD requirements for intrastate drivers can be found on the CHP’s website: https://www.chp.ca.gov/programs-services/programs/commercial-vehicle-section/intrastate-elds

Of importance, the federal 150 air-mile “short haul” exemption is limited to ELD use and does not otherwise exempt an intrastate driver from their RODS obligations should it exceed California’s “100 air-mile radius driver” exemption.  In other words, if within the first 100 air-miles from their normal work reporting location, a California intrastate driver is permitted to use timecards instead of an ELD.  For the next 50 air-miles, they are permitted to use paper logbooks instead of an ELD.  If 150 or more air-miles, ELDs are required.  However, the new rules also permit the use of a logbook (but no timecard) should a driver exceed this 150 air-mile short-haul exemption no more than 8 days within any 30-day period.  Finally, the current HOS carveout for California towers (Title 13 CCR section 1212 (q)) itself has not changed. 

CTTA will keep you updated if there are any additional clarifications or changes.