Anti-Idling Policies

Anti-idling policies

Anti-idling policies restrict the amount of time that a vehicle can idle its main engine.

• In the State of California, unnecessary idling of California’s Department of Transportation (Caltrans) fleet vehicles and equipment was forbidden by Deputy Directive 96, issued in 2008. Idling is only allowable while in traffic, during vehicle maintenance, while providing power to equipment, and when idling is necessary to prevent emergency situations.
• The City of Portland maintains an idle reduction policy for its city fleet vehicles and requires vendors in loading areas to comply with a similar idle reduction approach.
• The City of Seattle’s Purchasing Department includes a general vehicle anti-idling requirement in all City contracts, requiring the City vendors and contractors to adopt anti-idling practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• A comprehensive list of idling regulations across the country is kept up to date by the American Transportation Research Institute.