Clean Truck Check, done right the first time.
California's Clean Truck Check (CTC) replaced the PSIP smog program in 2023 — and it's not optional. We're a CARB-credentialed testing location. Drive in, get tested, get submitted, get back on the road.
California's heavy-duty smog program.
The Clean Truck Check is mandatory for nearly all non-gasoline vehicles over 14,000 lbs operating in California — including out-of-state trucks that enter the state. Enforcement is active: failure to test can mean DMV holds, roadside citations, and loss of your CA operating authority.
Compliance has two parts. Every rig with an OBD system gets a periodic OBD test twice a year. Older vehicles without OBD get a visual smoke opacity inspection instead. Results upload directly to CARB's CTC portal within days of the test.
We're a credentialed tester. That means your test is performed, uploaded, and logged against your VIN by us — not sent off to a third party who takes a week to respond.
The full CTC visit.
- OBD data pullSAE J1939 / J1979 data extracted with a CARB-approved testing device, checked against your vehicle's readiness monitors and MIL status.
- Visual smoke opacity inspectionFor pre-OBD vehicles and any truck flagged for visual. SAE J1667 snap-acceleration smoke test, performed by a credentialed technician.
- VIN verification & compliance checkWe confirm you're registered in the CTC portal and the fee is current before we file. Missing registration is the #1 reason trucks fail the test.
- Same-day CARB submissionResults upload before you leave. You drive out with a printed confirmation and your CTC record is updated in the state system.
- Fail diagnostics (if needed)If the truck fails, we don't ship you off to another shop. We diagnose the emissions fault, repair it, and re-test in-house.
CTC at a glance.
| Applies to | Non-gasoline vehicles > 14,000 lbs GVWR operating in CA |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Twice per year (OBD-equipped) or annually (visual) |
| Test type | OBD data extraction or SAE J1667 smoke opacity |
| Submission | Direct to CARB CTC portal by a credentialed tester |
| Penalty for non-compliance | DMV registration hold, citations, loss of CA operating authority |
| Turnaround at MTR | Typically under 60 minutes (compliant vehicles) |
| Fleet service | Yes — scheduled bulk testing, on-site paperwork |
Things fleet managers ask us every week.
My truck is registered out of state. Do I still need CTC?
Yes. If your truck operates in California — even occasionally — it must be registered in the CTC portal and tested on schedule. Enforcement is tied to operating in CA, not to where the plate is issued.
What happens if my truck fails?
You have a defined window to complete repairs and re-test. We diagnose the fault (usually a DPF/DOC/EGR/SCR issue or a permanent MIL) and fix it in-house, then re-run the test. No hand-off, no restart.
Can I do this without pulling the truck out of service?
For most OBD-equipped rigs we're done in under an hour. Schedule ahead and we'll sequence it between runs. Fleets, talk to us about off-hours testing.
Do you handle the paperwork with CARB?
Yes. As a credentialed tester we submit the results directly. You leave with printed confirmation and your CTC record updated.
What if my DPF is the reason I'm failing?
We also run the DPF burnout and cleaning in-house. See our DPF Cleaning page — most emissions fails start there.