Want to expand your routes to California? You’ll need Clean Truck Check (CTC) certification first. To haul with Amazon Relay through the Golden State, here’s what you need to know about meeting California Air Resources Board (CARB) requirements.
What is Clean Truck Check?
CTC certificates show that diesel and alternative fuel vehicles over 14,000 pounds meet California’s emissions standards. Even if your trucks aren’t registered in California, you’ll need certification to haul loads that travel through the state.
How to get CTC certified
Register with the California CTC Vehicle Inspection System (CTC-VIS) Portal. Then, add your assets and make required payments for your certification type:
- Vehicle Compliance Certificates: For individual trucks (renew every 6 months).
- Affirmation of Fleet Wide Compliance: For your entire fleet (renew every 12 months).
When you onboard to Amazon Relay, we’ll ask to you to upload your documents or attest that you don’t plan to operate in California. You can always update your attestation later. Zero-emission and gasoline vehicles don’t need CTC certificates.
Additional requirements for refrigerated loads
If you’re planning to haul refrigerated loads in California, you’ll need to take these extra steps.
- Register your reefers in CARB’s ARBER system.
- Meet CARB’s Airborne Toxic Control Measure standards.
This applies to all refrigeration unit-equipped trucks and trailers, even if you’re based outside of California.
CTC requirements for Relay carriers
Once you’ve got your certificates, Amazon will need to verify them.
- Verification typically takes 2 business days once you upload them to your Relay account.
- Make sure they list all the VINs you’ll use for Amazon loads that pass through California.
- Keep certificates current.
- Get new trucks certified before hauling in California.
- Plan ahead for renewals. We’ll send you reminders when expiration is close.
- You’ll see “CTC complaint” or “CTC not compliant” in your Relay account for each truck.
Preparing for CARB compliance will help your business avoid service interruptions. Trucks that travel through California for Amazon loads will be rejected at check-in without valid certificates. We don’t pay carriers for loads that aren’t hauled.
How can my company learn more about CARB CTC?
o Join CARB’s email list sign-up.
o Review reporting resources from CTC.
o Watch this CTC Reporting Tutorial video.
Already CTC certified? Sign up for Relay
If your trucking company is CTC certified, get your documentation ready for Amazon’s verification. But first, check if your business meets Relay’s other carrier requirements. Then, start your Relay application on your desktop or in our app on iOS or Android.
Disclaimer: Amazon does not tender loads through any third-party load boards. Any Amazon loads posted on third-party load boards will only be tendered directly to approved and onboarded carriers via the Relay web portal or Relay mobile app. If you are interested in hauling loads for Amazon, sign up and book directly on relay.amazon.com. For more about our efforts against fraud and cargo theft, see our trustworthy transportation page.
