California Air Resources board passed the truck and bus rule in 2008. This rule dictates that heavy diesel type engines must be outfitted with a particular type of filter called a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF).
While these special filters may be good for the environment, some drivers claim they wreak havoc on the engines of the trucks, decrease the power of the engines considerably, and in some cases stop them from working altogether. In a few cases, they have even been responsible for local wildfires. DPF filters can cost up to $20,000 to be placed.
Local independent truckers who don’t have the money for the special filters may be forced to sell their trucks out of state or scrap them.
What makes the situation even more difficult is that the law states that “Lighter and older heavier trucks must be replaced”. There are no tests for specific trucks, which means that even if a truck produces relatively little pollution it still has to be replaced if its over a certain age.
Many independent California truckers are livid, and believe that this legislation is an attempt to shove them out of the state even though they’ve been a cornerstone in its economy. If the recession and rising business costs weren’t enough, this law seems to have its crosshairs on the trucker’s already ailing wallets.
The Last American Cowboys is a short documentary by Steamboat Imagery, that showcases one particular trucker named Peter Carrillo and his Hay Hauling company in Southern California. According to the tone of the film, the Southern California hay hauling industry may die a slow death under this ordinance.