SOUTHLAND – (INT) - The South Coast Air Quality Management District is launching inspections of idling big-rig trucks near distribution warehouses. It’s an effort to protect residents from toxic diesel exhaust.

“Residents in environmental justice communities can be exposed to large amounts of diesel fumes from trucks and other sources,” said Wayne Nastri, SCAQMD’s executive officer.

Earlier this month, a team of SCAQMD field inspectors inspected more than 200 trucks in the Inland Empire, concentrating on areas in Mira Loma, Fontana and Ontario where trucks park near warehouses.

Under state law, trucks are prohibited from idling for longer than five minutes, unless they have a “Clean-Idle” sticker indicating the engine has very low emissions under idle conditions.

During this month’s inspection, SCAQMD inspectors found that more than 75 percent of trucks observed did have Clean-Idle stickers. Of all trucks observed, about 12 percent were idling. Inspectors verified only one violation of truck idling regulations.

Story Date: March 24, 2018