Zonar announced it has become the first telematics provider certified by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to support Clean Truck Check (CTC) compliance through OEM-installed vehicle integrations. With more than 14 years of the Zonar V4 telematics device installed on approximately 400,000 Freightliner Cascadia, Thomas Built Buses, and Western Star vehicles at the factory, fleets operating these vehicles in California can access the solution.
The expanded executive order allows fleets operating California CTC-regulated vehicles to meet emissions compliance requirements without connecting to the vehicle’s diagnostic port or installing additional aftermarket hardware.
Why Zonar’s CARB Emission Solution Is Different
CARB’s Clean Truck Check regulation requires non-gasoline vehicles over 14,000 pounds operating in California to submit emissions data on a recurring schedule. Until now, compliance typically required:
- Manual scans at a shop or yard
- Third-party service providers
- Vehicle downtime and scheduling
Zonar’s certification introduces another compliance pathway, the company said.
With this executive order, OEM-installed and hardwired Zonar devices embedded in supported vehicles can collect and submit required emissions data directly to CARB. The company said this eliminates the need for shop visits or plug-in scans.
Zonar said it is the only provider whose CARB executive order permits compliance through a hardwired vehicle harness rather than a direct onboard diagnostic (OBD) connection.
Who This Impacts
With compliance frequency increasing to four checks per year beginning in 2027, the certification applies to:
- Fleets operating in California subject to CARB Clean Truck Check requirements
- Vehicles with factory-installed telematics configurations
- School transportation, transit and commercial fleets seeking to reduce downtime and compliance risk
- Mixed or transitioning fleets where OEM-equipped vehicles can meet compliance requirements without additional equipment
Fleets can meet CARB compliance requirements using hardware already installed in their vehicles, either as a standalone emissions solution or alongside Zonar’s telematics, diagnostics and maintenance tools.
First to Market
Zonar was previously certified by CARB as a continuously connected Clean Truck Check solution and said it is now the first provider approved for OEM-installed and hardwired configurations.
The company said the certification reflects collaboration with CARB, OEM partners and Zonar’s engineering team to meet regulatory and technical requirements.
“CARB compliance is becoming more frequent and complex for fleets,” said Amit Anand, senior vice president of product at Zonar. “Because we design our own hardware, work directly with OEMs and partner with CARB, we were able to develop a solution that allows fleets to remain compliant using technology already installed in their vehicles.”
Why Zonar’s OEM-Certified CARB Emission Solution Changes the Experience for Fleets
According to Zonar, fleets using its Emission Check solution may experience:
- No downtime for compliance scans
- Earlier detection of emissions issues within CARB’s compliance window
- Lower costs compared with manual or third-party scans
- Preparation for increased CARB enforcement and inspection frequency
With enforcement tied to vehicle registration, roadside inspections, ports and rail yards, CARB compliance requirements apply across multiple operating environments. Zonar said the system is intended to help fleets meet these requirements while reducing operational disruption.
