Regulations & Legislations
Publisher/Senior Editor: Paula Willis Art Director: Lyndsey Kone PO BOX 26115, Greensboro, NC 27402 (336) 393-2000 fax (336) 393-2197 www.volvotrucks.us.com Driver's Digest is published monthly by Volvo Trucks North America. It is produced expressly for and provided at no charge to drivers, fl eet managers, owners, and other professionals in the commercial trucking industry. Contents may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without prior written consent of the publisher.  2009, Volvo Group North America, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in USA. Publication No. PV835-905-0904 Contributors: Jim McNamara Dewey Mooring Ed Saxman Rob Simpson Frank Bio Chuck VanDyke  13 DRIVER'S DIGEST INDUSTRY NEWS REGULATIONS & LEGISLATIONS NATIONAL CLEAN DIESEL EMISSIONS REDUCTION PROGRAM COMPONENTS 1. National Clean Diesel Program (70% of funding) National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program contains the majority of the funding dedicated to deployment of EPA-verifi ed and certifi ed tech-nologies. This component will be administered by EPA's regional offi ces. National Clean Diesel Emerging Technologies Program fosters the deployment of innovative technologies through a national grant competi-tion. To qualify as an emerging technology, a manufacturer must have an EPA approved application and test plan for verifi cation. SmartWay Clean Diesel Finance Program allows EPA to issue competi-tive grants to establish national low-cost revolving loans or other fi nancing programs that will provide funding to fl eets to reduce diesel emissions. 2. State Clean Diesel Grant Program (30% of funding) State Clean Diesel Grant Program makes funds directly available to States interested in establishing new diesel emission reduction programs. FEDERAL TAX LAW CHANGE HELPS FLEETS SAVE ON TAXES A signifi cant change in federal law will allow additional fl eets to save on federal income taxes. Effective November 6, 2009, businesses of all sizes can use operating losses to offset profi ts from as long as fi ve years ago. Previously, there was a two-year period to apply current net operating losses to reduce tax liability from profi table years. To obtain the savings, the businesses must fi le an amended tax return. Larger businesses can choose whether to apply net operating losses from the 2008 or 2009 tax year. Small businesses (under $15 million in sales) can apply losses from both 2008 and 2009. Companies that obtained federal funds in bailouts will be ineligible to take advantage of these savings. (American Trucking Association) PORT OF OAKLAND OUT OF MONEY The Port of Oakland is out of money to help truck owners purchase new trucks and retrofi t existing trucks. The $22 million fund has already been spent as nearly 1,000 truck operators received grants to upgrade and ret-rofi t trucks, but roughly 1,000 eligible truck owners are without help. On January 1, 2010, 2003 model year trucks or older that are not equipped with diesel particulate fi lters are banned from entering the port. CARB told truck operators that applicants who qualify for a truck grant and who complete a purchase order by December 4, 2009, can receive an exten-sion to enter the port in 2010. CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD (CARB) FINES $650,000 FOR MISLA-BELED AND ILLEGAL PARTS IN CALIFORNIA CARB claims the Donaldson Company sold uncertifi ed diesel emission control systems, mislabeled some systems and did not provide each de-vice with its own serial number. CARB will require Donaldson to remove the uncertifi ed particulate matter fi lter systems from trucks and replace them with verifi ed systems. CARB will also require correct labeling and serial numbers.