Agency to Require On-board Diagnostics for Trucks
New requirements will help ensure that heavy-duty vehicles run as cleanly as possible over their entire life on the road and contribute to healthier and cleaner air for all Americans, according to a Dec. 4 press release from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
On-board diagnostic systems (OBD) have been required on passenger cars since the mid-1990s, and will now be required on heavy-duty vehicles. They monitor emission control systems and detect malfunctions, alerting drivers and enabling service technicians to diagnose and properly repair the problem.
The final rule is a major step in EPA's efforts to work with the California Air Resources Board to develop a consistent national heavy-duty OBD program.
For more information, go to http://www.epa.gov/obd/regtech/heavy.htm.