Help needed to report smoking vehicle to CARB

*NOTE image removed to conserve bandwidth and since I've gotten the info to report the offending vehicle.

I saw a rock hauling truck spewing pollution like crazy today while driving up I-680, I wanted to report the offender to the CARB, but unfortunately the license plate was so dirty (on purpose?) that I can't get the reading. However, I have a few other IDs I need help with.

There's a logo of make of the truck manufacturer, but I'm not familiar with it.
There's a printed number on the driver side door (CA062305), is that the same as license plate?

below is picture of the offending truck:


here's the image of license plate, difficult to read:


here's the image of the driver side door showing "Trucking, CA 052306)


here's the image of the truck logo, can someone let me know who the manufacturer is?

Pretty sure the truck logo is Peterbilt... ironically, I only recognize the logo from an article about the alternative fuel/low emission vehicles they've been working on.

It's a Peterbilt-brand truck.

Link to ARB page for "Smoking Vehicle Complaint program"
http://www.arb.ca.gov/enf/complaints/smoke.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

DMV Website for finding CA numbers:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vehindustry/mcp/mcp_actve_carrier.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

No listing for either of the two truck numbers you listed.
Note that your number appears to be short one digit, as compared to the others on the list above...

^^^ Thanks!

Anyone know if reporting it, esp. for non-commercial vehicles will have any effect? Will they get summoned or required to pass an inspection or smog check? Does it subject them to extra scrutiny by police? I've seen recent model pickups where people have intentionally added vertical exhausts and seemingly have modded them to emit lots of smoke.

thanks to packet and Randy for the info, I'll try submit the form on the ARB site and also give them a call.

I've never seen a truck emit so much smoke in the exhaust before. I was behind another car when I first saw a plume of smoke about 1/2 a mile away, and I actually thought thought there was a fire in one of the homes adjacent to the freeway. Then when I got closer I started seeing how much smoke that truck was producing (probably more because it was a slight incline), so I figured I had to take a video of it. Anyways, hopefully the air resource board will send them a nice letter convincing the trucker to do something about this.

I did a little search based on Randy's link, and I think I found the owner to report to CARB.
info from page 152 of this link:
http://apps.dmv.ca.gov/vehindustry/mcp/mcp_carrier_lists/t.pdf
the ID is: 0062305


here's the link to the video I took:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYLSaryujrQ

are particulate filters required for diesel trucks in all of California or just the LA area?.. some of those increase fuel consumption and thus CO2 emissions.

Just as with cars and their emission control systems, it depends on how old it is...

Herm said:

are particulate filters required for diesel trucks in all of California or just the LA area?.. some of those increase fuel consumption and thus CO2 emissions.

Click to expand...

Here is the link to the appropriate AQMD site for those who care:

http://www.aqmd.gov/complain/reporting_aq_problems.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's very sad, but there's very likely zero one do about this truck as it's operating normally for it's age the load it's pulling.

Particulate filters didn't start until (most) of the 2007 model on-road trucks. Caterpillar had a system that met 2007 regs without a diesel particulate filter, but I think all use DPFs to meet the 2011 requirements.

Diesels are different from gas engines in that they do not have a throttle valve to limit intake air - they're essentially always at 'wide-open throttle'. To make a diesel engine run faster and/or make more power, they inject more fuel. Inject too much fuel and they smoke. And heavy work trucks will smoke a LOT when the driver pushes the pedal. It's worst when the truck is heavy, slow, and uphill. Sorry - that's the way the older trucks work.

Just particulates, nothing to be concerned about. Exhaust can look ok but be bad and look bad but not be that bad.

The truck is probably hauling materials for a new wind generator or to build a new EV battery factory so you should feel good about it.

California has opacity limits for "heavy duty vehicles". The limits vary based on the age of the truck. It's likely the truck you are posting about was in violation of these limits since it looks like the opacity of the smoke emitted was higher than 70%.

http://www.arb.ca.gov/enf/hdvip/hdvip_pamphlet.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

LTLFTcomposite said:

Just particulates, nothing to be concerned about. Exhaust can look ok but be bad and look bad but not be that bad.

The truck is probably hauling materials for a new wind generator or to build a new EV battery factory so you should feel good about it.

Click to expand...

California has considered diesel particulate matter to be a carcinogenic air contaminant for a while now. Here's an 11 year old info sheet: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/urban/rrp_fs.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

LTLFTcomposite said:

Just particulates, nothing to be concerned about. Exhaust can look ok but be bad and look bad but not be that bad.

Click to expand...

To add to the other post, see http://www.epa.gov/air/particlepollution/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, http://www.arb.ca.gov/pm/pm.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and http://www.arb.ca.gov/html/brochure/pm10.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.