SACRAMENTO - The California Air Resources Board today announced it has fined IVVE Transportation $59,050 for using high-polluting vehicles that do not comply with state standards.

“It’s especially important for companies involved in moving freight to use the cleanest engines they can afford since they spend so much time on our roads and highways,” said Jim Ryden, ARB’s chief of enforcement.  “We commend businesses that acknowledge their mistakes and then move in the right direction, such as IVVE Transportation.  We have to make clean air a priority and that can only happen when businesses do whatever it takes to follow clean air regulations.”

The Ontario, California-based motor carrier was cited for dispatching vehicles that were not compliant with the emission standards set forth in ARB’s Drayage (Port) Truck Regulation.  Under the settlement, $44,287.50 will go to the California Air Pollution Control fund to support air quality research, and $14,762.50 to the Peralta Community College district to help fund diesel education classes around the state.

The company has also agreed to cease operating non-compliant vehicles.

California’s Drayage Truck Regulation was adopted in December 2007 to reduce harmful diesel emissions from trucks that serve the state’s ports and intermodal rail yards.  For decades, drayage trucks have been among the oldest and dirtiest vehicles on the road, with little or no emission controls.  Under the regulation, pre-1994 vehicles are prohibited from serving ports and rail facilities, while later models must be updated with diesel exhaust filters according to a staggered implementation schedule.  All vehicles covered under the regulation must have 2007 engines or newer by 2014.

Diesel exhaust contains a variety of harmful gases and over 40 other known cancer-causing compounds. Research has identified diesel particulate matter as a toxic air contaminant based on its potential to cause cancer, premature death and other health problems.