SACRAMENTO, CA --- The California Air Resources Board (ARB) has fined Desert Materials Transportation and Terra Trucking Co., both from Banning, Calif., for a total of $7,500 for diesel truck emissions violations. 

ARB said its investigation showed both companies failed to properly inspect their diesel fleets, as required by California law. 

"Many California companies are going beyond what is required," said ARB Chairwoman Mary D. Nichols. "When we find companies that are ignoring clean air requirements it is only fair that they should pay a penalty." 

Annual smoke emissions tests are required for diesel truck fleets, in conjunction with ARB's roadside smoke inspection program. The law seeks to ensure that all vehicles are properly maintained, tamper-free and free from excessive smoke emissions. 

In addition to mandatory penalties, Desert Materials Transportation and Terra Trucking Company are required to: 

• Guarantee employees responsible for conducting the inspections attend a California community college training class on diesel emissions compliance testing and provide certificates of completion within one year

• Provide documentation to ARB that the inspections are being carried out for the next four years

• Ensure all of the company's heavy-duty diesel trucks have their software updated with the latest low-NOx (oxides of nitrogen emissions) programming

• Instruct vehicle operators to comply with the state's idling regulations

• Ensure that all diesel trucks are up to federal emissions standards for the vehicle model year and are properly labeled with an emission control label.

Desert Materials Transportation will pay $2,750 in penalties to the California Air Pollution Control Fund, and Terra Trucking Company will pay $4,750. The California Air Pollution Control Fund provides funding projects and research to improve California's air quality.