Caltrans:

Caltrans Vehicle Inspector – We’re saddened by the loss of Bruce Homme.

We are saddened by the loss of Bruce Homme, Caltrans Vehicle Inspector in the Transportation Permit Program, in Traffic Operations.  Bruce worked for the Department for more than 17 years.  Bruce was one of the three vehicle inspectors at Caltrans.  He started as a permit writer in District 4 and later moved to Sacramento where he became a vehicle inspector, serving the Central Valley.

As a Vehicle Inspector, Bruce was always busy inspecting Fixed Loads, such as crane, tow truck, concrete pumpers etc.  His duties didn’t stop there, he also had to inspect all 9-axles trailers and larger.  Caltrans will not issue an extra-legal permit for these types of loads until they are inspected.  Once it passes inspection you’re good for the life of the machine unless it changes ownership.  Anytime an out-of-state 9-axle or larger trailer combination needed to enter California from anywhere else in country and it hadn’t already been inspected, it sits at one of the borders until one of the Vehicle Inspectors is available.

Bruce always went out of his way to accommodate industry especially since he knew when you called him you “needed it yesterday.”  He did his best to make sure you weren’t delayed anymore than you had to be.  He did a great job and he will truly be missed.

We hope to see this position filled very soon and until that time, please be patient and plan ahead if you’re going to need your vehicle inspected.  If your delay becomes unreasonable, let us know.

Caltrans Transportation Permits Advisory Council (CTPAC) – We have scheduled our next meeting on June 8^th at CTA’s office in Sacramento.

The purpose of the Caltrans Transportation Permit Advisory Council (CTPAC) is to provide a forum for government and Industry view on state transportation permitting policies and procedures. Caltrans, CHP and Industry believe that this is an effective way of promoting understanding and improving the permit process.  CTPAC representatives use the Council and Steering Committee meetings to update their members on changes and help resolve permit related issues.

The workgroups will meet in the morning, and the Steering Committee will meet in the afternoon.  We encourage industry stakeholders to attend.  If you’re not able to make it, feel free to e-mail me any comments or questions that you may have for discussion.

Lettuce harvesting may be impacted – Lettuce coolers to be permitted as a fixed load.

Now it’s the agriculture industry’s turn to deal with the Caltrans inspection and permit process. Although Caltrans is accommodating this year’s harvest, changes will go into effect next year. The farm haulers of lettuce will soon face issues similar to those that affect the Construction Transportation Industry.

For example, recently a CHP Inspection Facility determined that the lettuce cooler truck is a “fixed” load, not a “hauled” load as it has been in the past.  The lettuce cooling unit has been modified over the years and is now welded to the frame, taking these units out of the hauled equipment program and into the fixed load program, which requires inspection and inspection report.  Fixed load units do not receive maximum propel weight like a hauled load would; once weighed, they receive actual axle weights plus a 700 lbs tolerance.  Time will tell whether this will adversely affect the agriculture industry. The Department will allow them to finish out this year’s spring harvest but will require inspections starting July 1, 2010.

City of Brea – Hwy 90 (Imperial Highway) through Brea may be relinquished to the City of Brea.

A member has informed us that a Brea police officer warned him that his Annual Caltrans Permit wasn’t valid on Hwy 90 in Brea.  I explained that the Brea PD actually do traffic enforcement for the City of Yorba Linda, but we’re not aware of any relinquishment of additional segments of the highway.  That doesn’t mean it won’t happen, because, once they start breaking up a highway, the plan is usually to relinquish all of it. We have contacted the California Transportation Commission (CTC) and are waiting for their response about additional relinquishment plans.

For those that aren’t familiar with how and why these routes are relinquished, the removal of a state highway from the State Highway System requires a relinquishment approved by the CTC. Prior to pursuing any relinquishments, the district must obtain concurrence from the Caltrans Division of Transportation Planning that the route or route segment is no longer an appropriate to the state highway system.

Once concurrence from the Division of Transportation Planning is obtained, the district is responsible for negotiating the terms of the relinquished with the local agency that will accept ownership of the facility.  This negotiation must be processed through the Relinquishment Advisory Committee.

The legislation enacted to relinquish parts of the state highway system will typically require that the transaction be “in the best interest of the State,” or the best possible value for the state.  The benefits of the relinquishment are provided at the lowest cost while minimizing risk  This can be demonstrated by the preparation of a benefit-cost analysis that recognizes certain anticipated savings to the Department in the terms of reduced maintenance and operations costs, previously anticipated capital improvements, and permitting costs.

The CTC has final authority for the relinquishment, including approval of any costs to relinquish.

City of Yorba Linda – Hwy 90 was relinquished to the City of Yorba Linda in June, 2002.

Many haulers aren’t aware of the route designation change until they try to obtain a Single Trip Permit, only to be told they would not be routed on Hwy 90.  This also means your Caltrans Annual Permit, which allowed you travel on state highways is no longer valid when the section of state highway is relinquished.  There is no notice to Industry from Caltrans when this occurs, so it is something you never hear about until you’re stopped in that particular city.  This goes on up and down the state.

In June 2002, the California Transportation Commission approved resolutions R-3522 and R-3523 which relinquished Hwy 90 to the City of Yorba Linda.  Caltrans turned over the property rights, liability and maintenance responsibilities of a portion of a state highway.  This included KP 12.87/16.25 to KP 16.25/18.91, which is the portion of Hwy 90 that is within the jurisdiction of Yorba Linda.

This process is slowly eliminating the state routes that the Industry utilizes forcing drivers to travel through various individual localities that require their own permits.  This is increasing the number of permits that have to be obtained for a pick-up and/or delivery.

City of Santa Monica – City may require Industry to submit a valid Caltrans permits with local permit applications, which will only delay us more.

We were contacted by a local permit service, and informed about what was being considered.  Currently, when a customer calls, the permit service will order the permits for a given route, all at the same time. Some may be issued in15 minutes; others could take a day or more.  By the time the correct permit is received and sent to the city, it may be too late for you to move the load as scheduled.  It is just another delay that isn’t necessary.  We explained to these localities that if every locality had the same mindset that they won’t issue their transportation permits until you submit to the city your valid Caltrans Permit, we would be at a standstill.

What some localities have experienced is that the load specified on the permit isn’t even close to the load actually traveling the streets.  The cities regard this as cheating and putting unknown stress on their road system. They cite examples where they have caught a hauler pulling a bulldozer when the permit was for a loader.  If you are using your Annual Permit, you have certain limitations, if you are outside of these limitations, you must apply for a Single Trip Permit.

This is what happens when you have a few rogue truckers that couldn’t follow the rules. They make it tough for the rest of you that are trying to do it the right way.

We since have received a call from the City of Santa Monica requesting information on what other localities maybe requiring drivers to obtain a transportation permit.  We were asked if we would have a problem if the city started requiring a copy of your valid Caltrans permit prior to issuing the city permit.  We expressed we would and are scheduling a meeting in the next couple weeks to discuss it further.  So yes, we discourage a city or county from requiring a valid Caltrans permit prior the issuance of any local permit.

State of Arizona – 60,000-lbs tridem has been approved on a limited route basis.

The Arizona Department of Transport (ADOT) recently approved 60,000 lbs on 2 groups of 3-axle tridem within the proper trailer configuration.  It is very similar to California’s law.

The Arizona Central Commercial Permits and Ports of Entry may issue a Single Trip Class C Overweight, or Oversize and Overweight, Special Permit for tridem axle group configurations for travel on State Route 68, US Route 93 from Mile Post 67 (junction with SR68)  to Mile Post 70  ( junction with I-40 ), and Interstates 10, 19 and 40.

It appears that there are very few routes available at this time. We hope other routes will open up after further reviewed, but this is a good start on something we’ve been working on for several years.

We have several Industry stakeholders that have worked with ADOT on a routine basis, just as we do here in California with Caltrans.   If you would like a copy of the memo, send me an e-mail

Industry Reminders:

Smoke-test your vehicles –

We continue to talk to members who aren’t getting their diesel vehicles-smoke tested.

This is a California Air Resources Board rule that has been on the books for years.  It requires that any truck that exceeds 6,000 lbs, runs on diesel, and is older than four years be tested using an approved, properly calibrated device.  You are required to have this testing done every year if you have more than two vehicles, and you must maintain the records for two years; otherwise it is a $500 fine for every vehicle over 6,000 lbs, and $500 for each year you don’t have a smoke test done.

If you’re a member of the California Dump Truck Owners Association (CDTOA) they will smoke test your trucks for $35 each.  If you have 10 trucks or more, they will give you a break on the price.  They are mobile to help make it more convenient and will come out on weekends.  Recently a member had 15 vehicles that hadn’t been tested.  We told him he could have them all tested for $525 or wait for CARB to catch him and pay $15,000 in fines for not having two years of smoke testing records.  We have members that are receiving wake up calls from CARB, being fined every week or so, so get your vehicles tested before this happens to you.

If you’re not a CDTOA member, Western Lubrication will smoke test those same 15 vehicles for $65 each or $975.  As a CDTOA member your price with the same company for the same 15 vehicles over 6,000 lbs would be $588.50.  You can become a CDTOA member for as little as $138.50 after your savings for smoke testing.  Make it hassle-free; save money and take advantage of all the information they provide you to help make your business successful by becoming a CDTOA member.

IRS - Red Fuel - Bare Rental Equipment Companies are vulnerable.

The IRS is out enforcing the Federal Red Fuel law.   They haven’t gone away, but, rather, are increasing enforcement.  One member recently had a 1,800-gallon water truck that was rented to a customer on a bare rental basis; meaning the member’s customer is responsible for maintaining the water truck.

The IRS Fuel Compliance Officer, from the Santa Ana Office showed up on the jobsite and discovered red fuel in the tanks of the water truck.  The water truck only travels to and from the fire hydrant if necessary; otherwise the truck is transported to and from the location.  It never travels on the highway.  Our member had no control over what kind of fuel was being put in the water truck when it was in the possession and control of their customer.  They even had the tanks marked Clear Fuel Only, because they didn’t want any problems.

But the Fuel Compliance Officer really had no kind words to say.  It was black and white to him: someway, somehow, someone is going to receive a citation.  He continued to insist it is the responsibility of the owner of the truck, even once it arrives and the customer takes control.

I spoke to one of the Compliance Officers and was informed, they give no warnings.

Reaffirming Our Purpose:

If you have any problems with a local agency (city/county) and you find yourself asking ‘why we have to do things this way’ and the agency tells you, ‘this is the way we have always done it’, let me know. We are here to make California transportation operations as smooth, efficient and safe as possible.

Respectfully submitted,

Industry Transportation Consultant