July 15–16, 2014
CRA Board of Directors Meeting - Lake Tahoe, CA

July 17–21, 2014

 

Aztec Tents, one of the largest manufacturers of tents and tent-related accessories in the United States, recently unveiled the Timbertrac™ Frame Tent system, a newly engineered slide-track tent system. Revealed to the world at the 2014 American Rental Association "The Rental Show" in Orlando, the Timbertrac™ Collection features an architectural truss beam design, "wood-like" aluminum beams, and aesthetic joining plates, producing the appearance of craftsman-style construction while providing the amenities needed for event-specific applications. The Graincote™ coating system used to cover the silver aluminum beams produces a look and feel never-before-seen in any other event structure.
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Point-of-Rental™ Systems has created multiple videos showcasing its most popular modules as well as the history of the company's beginnings and growth. Videos were introduced at this year's ARA Rental Show in Orlando as part of the company's bus sponsorship and played as attendees rode buses to and from the convention center. "If there is a Point-of-Rental module a customer is interested in but wants to first learn what it does and how it can help their rental business, a lot of their questions can be answered just by viewing a short video on it," says Erica Wright, Point-of-Rental's public relations and marketing manager. "Furthermore, if a potential customer wants to take a quick look around, learn a bit of history and see what types of things we offer, these videos can definitely help with starting the legwork prior to calling our sales team for additional information."
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With the DC 6000, Husqvarna now has a dust management system with advanced cyclone technology, which enables high air flow and high productivity while leaving less dust on the floor. "It is a big time saver. The technology will definitely contribute to higher efficiency and productivity for the users," says Joakim Leff-Hallstein, Global Product Manager for Surface Preparation.
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Kubota Tractor Corporation has received the number one rating and "Dealer’s Choice Award" among Tractor Manufacturers, according to the North American Equipment Dealers Association (NAEDA) 2014 Dealer-Manufacturer Relations Survey. Nearly 1,400 equipment dealers participated in this year’s survey, rating the tractor lines they carry in 12 categories. Kubota ranked number one among tractor manufacturers in overall satisfaction, product availability, product quality, parts availability, parts quality, return privileges, communications with management, warranty procedures, warranty payments, marketing and advertising support, and manufacturer response to dealer needs or concerns. A third-party research firm not affiliated with NAEDA collected and tabulated the results.
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Skyjack Division recently sold three Skyjack Tier 4 Interim compliant ZB2044 telehandlers to Coastline Equipment. The California-based company purchased the three Skyjack ZB2044 in a move to win more government contracts. Coastline used CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2014 to showcase its orders for the new telehandlers, which will boost the company’s rental fleet further still. The company plans to add more Skyjack telehandlers to their rental fleet later this year.
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Bobcat Company has released two new Tier 4 excavators — the E32i and E35i – which feature increased fuel efficiency and a new forward-mount instrumentation system that presents operators with many of the functions, aesthetics and visibility they’ve come to enjoy with Bobcat® loaders. The new Tier 4-compliant E32i and E35i have been designed as additional offerings from Bobcat Company in the 3-ton class of compact excavators. The E32i and E35i are appealing options for rental customers and first-time equipment buyers. These two 24.8-horsepower excavators feature a direct-inject, 1.7-liter, naturally aspirated diesel engine that provides exceptional fuel economy while maintaining performance expectations for buyers in this excavator class.
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John Deere Power Systems (JDPS) has introduced a full line of radiator-cooled, dry-exhaust-manifold PowerTech™ auxiliary engines that are ideal for powering a variety of deck auxiliaries including pumps, winches, cranes, hydraulics and generators. The lineup meets U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Marine Tier 3 emissions regulations for U.S. waterways, and offers reliable, cost-effective power to customers for their auxiliary applications.
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Road-building contractors throughout Latin America have new, reliable power-providing partners in the form of two Doosan 185 cfm portable air compressors — the new P185 and recently redesigned C185, used to power handheld air tools, chippers and breakers. "Road-building contractors in Latin America face vastly different environmental conditions from one job to the next — where one job may be performed at sea level, the next may be performed at 3,000 meters above sea level — so they need engine power that can meet the needs of both jobs reliably and efficiently," says Rus Warner, manager, global air products, Doosan Portable Power. "Designed for reliability and versatility, these machines can get the job done in rugged, remote conditions at a range of elevations, day after day."
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Compact construction machines are characterized by a great deal of flexibility and versatile application areas. The smallest excavator 803 by Wacker Neuson is once again significantly expanding its application range with the dual power option. In combination with the electro-hydraulic generator HPU8, it is made into an emission-free helper with a few easy steps. With the dual power option, the Wacker Neuson excavator 803 can – in addition to the standard diesel engine – be connected to the external electro-hydraulic drive unit HPU8. Due to the generator, the excavator is operated electrically and completely emission-free. Contractors owning the 803 dual power have a machine that offers the features of a conventional diesel excavator, but at the same time, if necessary, also replaces special equipment for emission-free applications. This saves costs, ensures a higher machine utilization and expands the application areas of the mini-excavator.
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The May 16th CalChamber Alert Newsletter reported that the cloud of uncertainty over property tax assessments may lift soon, as an Assembly committee heard a proposal to clarify what constitutes a "change of ownership" under Proposition 13 last week. Late amendments to AB 2372 (Ammiano; D-San Francisco), presented to the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee, would better define when a sale of a property to multiple owners would constitute an ownership change, which would then trigger reassessment of the property according to the terms of the landmark 1978 initiative.
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In the May 2014 Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that last year was the third year in a row that North American refineries showed considerably higher profitability than European refineries as measured by earnings per barrel processed. While many factors contribute to refinery profitability, lower North American crude oil prices compared with world prices have been a key factor driving this outcome. North American refiners' earnings per barrel processed were more than $7 per barrel (bbl) higher than their European competitors in 2013, based on an analysis of 26 energy companies with refinery operations that submit financial and operating information by segment in annual reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
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Anthony York, president and publisher of Grizzly Bear Media, who has been covering California politics since 1997, recently reported on the release of Gov. Jerry Brown’s revised budget on foxandhoundsdaily.com. He commented that while for the most part, the revision was not very exciting due to the lack of dramatic revenue dips or spikes of years past and few new policy proposals, one thing did stand out. By next year, the state expects 11 million Californians, 30% of the population, to receive Medi-Cal benefits. York points out that the growth in Medi-Cal is another warning sign that while the state’s economy is recovering, the economic system is failing an ever-growing number of Californians. While capital gains taxes spike upwards and the Dow sets record highs, more Californians than ever are living in or near poverty.
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The California Air Resources Board adopted amendments to its Truck and Bus Regulation that will provide new flexible compliance options to owners of aging diesel fleets and recognize fleet owners that have made investments to comply, while also protecting air quality. The changes approved at the recent Board hearing provide additional regulatory flexibility to small fleets, lower-use vehicles, and fleets in rural areas that have made substantial progress towards cleaner air. Fleets that have invested in cleaner, compliant equipment and trucks will be able to use credits longer and any vehicles retrofitted by 2014 do not have to be replaced until 2023.
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Summary of Amendments Approved in April 2014:
The Board approved amendments to the Truck and Bus Regulation at its April 24-25, 2014 meeting. The approved amendments are intended to help ensure that the air quality benefits originally envisioned by the regulation will be achieved by providing some additional compliance flexibility to vehicle owners. The approved amendments are currently not in effect. Some details are being revised to reflect the Board's decision and will be made available for public comment before the amendments will be finalized.
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The ARB's Heavy-Duty Vehicle Inspection Program and Periodic Smoke Inspection Program were adopted into law in 1988 to control excessive smoke emissions and tampering from heavy-duty diesel trucks and buses. The regulations Title 13 CCR, sections 2180-2189 for HDVIP and Title 13 CCR, sections 2190-2194 for PSIP, which govern these programs, were last amended in 2013.

The HDVIP program requires heavy-duty trucks and buses to be inspected for excessive smoke and tampering and for engine certification label compliance. Any heavy-duty vehicle traveling in California, including vehicles registered in other states and foreign countries, may be tested. Tests are performed by ARB inspection teams at border crossings, CHP weigh stations, fleet facilities and randomly selected roadside locations. Owners of trucks and buses found in violation are subject to minimum penalties starting at $300 per violation.
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The Truck and Bus Regulation will reduce diesel exhaust emissions from privately owned and federal government diesel trucks and buses. Privately and publicly owned school buses have different requirements and do not need to be reported. This CARB site has the Truck Regulations Upload and Compliance Reporting System (TRUCRS).

Who Needs to Report for 2014?
Compliance requirements are currently in effect for heavier vehicles with a GVWR greater than 26,000 lbs. with engine years 1996 or newer. To assist vehicle owners with the transition to the January 1, 2014 particulate matter (PM) filter compliance deadline, the Air Resources Board (ARB or Board) is taking specific actions to provide additional time for owners to complete their good-faith compliance efforts and to take advantage of additional flexibility for many lower-use vehicles and vehicles that operate solely in certain areas of the state as explained in the regulatory advisory MSC 13-28. Owners will have the opportunity to use the following options under certain conditions but must report by January 31, 2014.
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Owners or Operators of portable engines and certain other types of equipment can register their units under the Air Resources Board's (ARB) Statewide Portable Equipment Registration Program (PERP) in order to operate their equipment throughout California without having to obtain individual permits from local air districts.

Portable Diesel Engine Airborne Toxic Control Measure
On January 1, 2013, the Portable Engine Airborne Toxic Control Measure (ATCM) fleet emission standards went into effect. The ATCM required owners of portable engines to submit a Fleet Compliance Report to the Air Resources Board by March 1, 2013. The next Fleet Compliance Report will be due March 1, 2017.

Changes to Fleets
The ATCM also requires owners to ensure the average PM emission level for their fleet does not fall out of compliance due to changes in the fleet. Owners of portable diesel engine fleets who are adding or removing engines are strongly encouraged to re-calculate their fleet average. Other changes, such as modifying a registration to be low-use or emergency only-use can also affect the fleet emissions average.
We recommended that once you have completed the calculator, save it and update it any time your portable fleet changes. Diesel engine owners submitting applications for PERP registration for the first time must include a Fleet Compliance Report. This includes transfer of existing registrations for engines you have purchased.

Critical Engine Requirements:
June 30, 2014: This is the last day ARB will accept initial registration applications for Interim Tier 4 engines rated from 175 bhp to 750 bhp.

Effective July 1, 2014: For initial registration into PERP, all diesel engines must meet the following certification tier levels:
• 50 to 74 bhp - Final Tier 4
• 75 to 174 bhp - Interim Tier 4
• 175 to 750 bhp - Final Tier 4
• Over 750 bhp - Interim Tier 4

Or, for all power categories - Flex engines certified under the flexibility provisions of Federal 40 CFR 1039.625, or CFR 89.102, or California Code of Regulations section 2423 (d).
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All diesel-fueled trucks, buses, trailers and transportation refrigeration units operating in California, including those based out of state, have requirements to reduce air pollution and improve the state's overall air quality.

See the new 2014 Reporting Guide!
The Truck Regulation Upload, Compliance, and Reporting System (TRUCRS) and the Online Reporting Guide were recently updated. Also, see more information for:

Course #521: How to Comply with the Truck and Bus Regulation.
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On July 26, 2007, the Air Resources Board (ARB) adopted a regulation to reduce diesel particulate matter (PM) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions from in-use (existing) off-road heavy-duty diesel vehicles in California.

What's New? (posted April 29, 2014)
Fleet Average Calculator for Medium Fleets has been made available for public use. The Medium Fleet Average Calculator is for medium-sized off-road fleets (2,501 to 5,000 total horsepower), and covers all compliance years. The calculator has also been updated with additional features to better aid large fleet owners in planning out their compliance strategies. Fleet owners utilizing the calculator are advised to first read the revised User Guide in order to familiarize themselves with the calculator.
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This area of the Off-Road Mobile Sources website pertains to off-road large spark-ignition (LSI) equipment greater than 25 horsepower, including farm, construction and industrial equipment, powered by gasoline and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and other alternate fuels. Typical applications that use LSI engines include forklifts, specialty vehicles, airport service vehicles, large turf care equipment, portable generators and a wide array of other agricultural, construction and general industrial equipment. The U.S. EPA has sole authority to control new farm and construction equipment under 175 horsepower.
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The small off-road engine (SORE) category consists of off-road spark-ignition engines below 25 horsepower, including small utility equipment, lawn mowers and weed trimmers. This category does not include compression-ignition engines, watercraft or recreational vehicles. The following includes general information regarding small off-road engines and ARB's SORE program:
Small Off-Road Engines Fact Sheet and Certification Guidelines - Online access to relevant certification documents for manufacturers.
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In December 2011 major amendments to the Off-Road Diesel Vehicle Regulation, which include delaying the first compliance date to no earlier than January 1, 2014, became effective. The changes to the regulation are reflected in the fact sheets, advisories and answers to frequently asked questions available on the Knowledge Center for the Off-Road Diesel Vehicle Regulation web page.
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Driving Toward a Cleaner California (DTCC) is a coalition of owner-operators, farmers, construction contractors and other business and community leaders committed to working with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to craft a sensible truck and bus replacement rule that both cleans the air and keeps California's economy moving forward. However, we have to apologize -- with a high volume of news, we have been overwhelmed with keeping up with the latest industry news. Our staff will be working on getting you the latest updates. In the meantime, you may also visit our sister affiliate site for the latest on CARB, AB32, and any related news to the industry. Click on "Learn More" to access this site.
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