Fleet Vehicle Compliance Checklist for Mechanic Service Truck Fleets: Stay Ahead of California & DOT Regulations in 2025

One Stop Truck & Equipment
May 12
4 min read

Fleet managers overseeing mechanic service trucks, fuel & lube trucks, and mobile repair units face unique challenges in California’s evolving regulatory landscape. These vehicles are the backbone of field service operations, but if not compliant, they can quickly become liabilities that result in registration holds, operational downtime, and legal penalties.

This detailed checklist is designed for fleets operating mechanic service trucks, helping managers stay compliant with California Air Resources Board (CARB), the Clean Truck Check program, Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) mandates, and Federal DOT regulations.

At One Stop Truck & Equipment, we specialize in fleet-focused service truck upfitting and compliance solutions, helping businesses stay ahead of regulatory changes.

Why Compliance Matters Even More for Service Truck Fleets

For field service and mobile maintenance fleets, vehicle downtime directly impacts your customer uptime. An out-of-service mechanic truck not only halts repairs—it stops revenue. Staying compliant protects:

Revenue flow
Fleet availability
Driver Safety
Your Company's reputation with high-value industrial and fleet clients

At One Stop Truck & Equipment, we work with fleet managers every day to build smarter, more efficient, and compliant service truck solutions customized for your operations.

✅ 2025 California Compliance Checklist for Mechanic Service Truck Fleets

Applicability:

All diesel, alternative fuel, and hybrid service trucks over 14,000 lbs GVWR operating in California.

Key Requirements

Report vehicles in the Clean Truck Check (CTC-VIS) system.
Pay annual fees and conduct mandatory emissions testing.
Ensure emissions control systems are maintained and repaired promptly

Why It's Critical for Service Trucks

Service trucks often idle for extended periods making them high-priority targets for emissions monitoring.
Non-compliance will lock your truck out of registration renewal, directly affecting job site response capabilities.

Resource: CARB Clean Truck Check (HD I/M)

Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) Mandates for Service Fleets

ZEV Purchase Requirements:

State / Local agencies must ensure 50% of new service truck purchases are ZEV by 2024, scaling to 100% by 2027.

Impact on Private Service Fleets:

High-Priority fleets (50+ vehicles or annual revenue over $50M) are also subject to ZEV rules by 2024.
ICE service truck purchases are only allowed if no ZEV version exists and must be reported in TRUCRS.

2025 Key Change:

CARB's ZEV Exemption List goes into effect—mechanic service trucks with specialty bodies may still qualify for ICE purchases if no ZEV equivalent is available.

Resource: CARB Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) Regulation

One Stop Truck & Equipment Solution: Using the industries latest technology, we've developed a fully operational Zero-Emission Mechanic Service Body Package, complete with crane, welder, air compressor, and tool power WITHOUT ever needing to IDLE the vehicle. This game-changing solution allows your service fleet to meet both CARB and client-driven sustainability goals without sacrificing field performance. Able to go on a fuel or ZEV powered chassis: Learn More

Drayage Rules: Less Direct but Important for Service Truck Fleets

Why it Matters:

If your mechanic trucks service ports, railyards, or intermodal hubs, they may be subject to Drayage regulations requiring TRUCRS reporting and eventual ZEV transition.

2024-2025 Change:

New drayage vehicle registrations must be ZEV as of January 2024.

Federal DOT Compliance Checklist for Service Truck Fleets

Core Compliance Areas

Driver Qualification (CDL, Medical Cards, Endorsements for air brakes or weight class)
Hours of Service (HOS) and Electronic Logging Devices (ELD) if required
Daily Pre/Post-trip Inspections (DOT annual inspections included)
Vehicle Maintenance Logs
Drug & Alcohol Testing Programs

2025 Anticipated Updates:

Potential CDL rule tightening for specialized service vehicles.
Increased emphasis on electronic compliance records

Tip: Even if your mechanic trucks operate locally, don't overlook federal DOT rules if your vehicle exceeds 10,001 lbs GVWR or crosses state lines.

Resource: FMCSA Compliance Guide

Upcoming Changes to Watch (2025 & Beyond)

CARB ZEV Exemption List for Specialy Service Trucks

Mechanic service truck configurations may remain expempt into 2025+ if ZEV options are unavailable.
This gives service fleets breathing room, but reporting and exemption claims must be carefully documented.

Ongoing Legal Challenges Could Adjust Timelines

Fleet managers should stay alert to legal rulings impacting ACF enforcement, especially around specialized vehicle types like mechanic service trucks.

Action Steps for Mechanic Service Truck Fleet Managers

Audit and Register All Service Trucks
- CTC-VIS and TRUCRS reporting should include every vehicle and specialty body configuration.
Plan Now for ZEV Transitions Where Feasible
- Evaluate duty cycles to see where ZEVs could be adopted (light-duty mobile repair vans may be candidates sooner than heavy-duty mechanics trucks).
Integrate Emissions Compliance into Your Preventative Maintenance Schedules
- Build CTC and federal inspection timelines into your maintenance system.
Educate Drivers and Technicians
- Make sure crews understand idling limits, compliance stickers, and reporting requirements.
Partner with Upfitters Who Understand Compliance
- Work only with upfitters and truck vendors who can guide you on compliant vehicle builds and documentation. One Stop Truck & Equipment is an upfitter who stays ahead of the regulations and proactively works on solutions.