What Qualifies as an Agricultural Vehicle Under Clean Truck Check?

Call us at 916.890.4427 to comply with California’s Clean Truck Check (Heavy-Duty Inspection & Maintenance) program, an agricultural vehicle is defined as any truck or truck-tractor/trailer combination that is:

  • Owned or operated by a farming business, and

  • Used solely for agricultural operations,

  • Specifically to transport farm products to the first point of processing.

These vehicles are not for personal use or non-farming operations and must serve a direct role in agriculture to qualify.

What Is the “First Point of Processing”?

The first point of processing is the initial location where harvested goods — such as crops, livestock, eggs, milk, or raw wood — are either:

  • Altered from their original state, or

  • Packaged for transportation.

Examples include:

  • Packinghouses & cotton gins

  • Slaughterhouses

  • Nut hullers/shellers

  • Dehydrators

  • Lumber, feed, or grain mills

  • Biomass facilities

  • On-site processing (e.g., in-field wood chipping)

🚫 Note: Facilities not considered a first point of processing include grocery stores, distribution centers, livestock auction houses, and locations where further processing happens after the product leaves its first processing site.

✅ Annual Emissions Testing Requirement

Agricultural vehicles must undergo emissions compliance testing once per year in California. These tests:

  • Must be completed by a Clean Truck Check credentialed tester, such as NorCal CARB Mobile

  • Can be done up to 90 days before your deadline

  • Help identify emissions issues early to avoid costly downtime

🚚 Need a Credentialed Tester?

NorCal CARB Mobile is a trusted, mobile Clean Truck Check provider serving farms across Northern California. We test agricultural vehicles on-site, helping you stay compliant without disrupting your operations.