What has 18 wheels and two smokestacks?

Help Clean Up California's Dirty Diesel Trucks

While sitting in traffic, have you ever wondered about the pollution billowing out of big-rig trucks? California's heavy duty trucks are the state's largest source of toxic diesel pollution—burdening Californians with serious health impacts and billions in healthcare costs. These trucks also belch more than seven percent of all of California's global warming pollution. This October, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will vote on a pair of proposals to clean up California's dirty diesel trucks, but many in the trucking industry are fighting the state's proposed cleaner standards.

Please sign our petition to CARB supporting the proposals to protect truckers and families from toxic diesel pollution and curb global warming pollution from big-rig trucks.


Diesel trucks and buses on the road represent the largest source of toxic diesel emissions in California. These toxic diesel emissions are responsible for causing approximately 2,300 premature deaths and more than 38,000 asthma attacks annually in the state. Truck drivers, children, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems are especially vulnerable to the health risks of diesel pollution. The loss of life, health care costs, and lost work and school days cost an estimated $18 billion each year, far more than the cost to clean up the trucks.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) must develop an effective, health protective In-Use Truck and Bus rule in order for California to meet its federal commitments to reduce ozone and particulate pollution, benefit truckers' health, lessen the health impacts of toxic diesel pollution, and save lives.

Additionally, CARB must adopt a strong Heavy-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Measure to reduce the truck pollution that causes global warming and meet our commitments under the landmark Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32).

What's At Stake:
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is proposing to adopt new regulations to clean up pollution from diesel trucks in October 2008. The rules would require reductions of particulate matter (soot), nitrogen oxide emissions that contribute to smog, and global warming pollution. 

Over the last decade, CARB has taken significant steps to clean up diesel pollution from sources such as buses, garbage trucks, harbor craft, and construction equipment, but trucks remain the largest source of unregulated diesel emissions in the state. CARB's proposed rules would require trucks to clean up through retrofits or upgrade to newer trucks. Incentive funding is also available to help truck owners retrofit or replace their trucks. This regulation is critical for public health and improving air quality in California, and to help us address global warming.

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