SACRAMENTO, CA— Fleets that only occasionally travel in California may benefit from a change to the Truck and Bus Rule that would up the low-mileage exemption from 1,000 miles to anywhere between 5,000 to 7,000 miles. 

But the change won’t happen as soon as the year turns. The low-use exemption of the state’s Truck and Bus Rule is said to be adopted before April and will be available through 2020. Until it comes into effect, however, the 1,000 miles limit will continue to be available to fleets.

To take advantage of the exemption, carriers and owner-operators who are leased to large fleets need to register their vehicle, engine and owner information with the California Air Resources Board (CARB). 

There will also be a “three-day pass”, which will give one vehicle per fleet a three-day exemption, but only once a year, according to the Canadian Trucking Alliance.

And there will be a “Good Faith Effort” rule that will allow truck owners to have six months in 2014 to replace or retrofit their trucks so that they meet CARB standards.