Caltrans – New Policy changes recently implemented.
Finally, after several years working to get changes in Caltrans’ tridem policy, there’s finally some success. This change is going be significant for hauled loads and fixed loads, such as crushers that are designed with longer tridem (3 consecutive axles in a group) axle spacing.
The problem is that a tridem axle group is allowed 60,000 lbs as long as the unit doesn’t exceeds 10’-0” overall length between the center of the first tridem axle to center of the third axle. Most of this equipment is manufactured in the east and Midwest and shipped here with some units coming in 10’-1” to 10’-4” and possible longer. When they get to California and are 10’-1” or longer they require a Caltrans vehicle inspector and a permit…it can take days, not to mention the picky “reducibility” factor where they have to take the machine apart for a couple of inches in length.
Here are the changes: Green weight chart for Tridem axle group’s weights. The Tridem axle spread has increased from 10’ to 10’-4.” Now we go to work for more help for the industry. The next Caltrans Transportation Permit Advisory Council (CTPAC) meeting is scheduled in Sacramento on June 17th.
City of Los Angeles – Transportation Ad-HOC Workgroup meeting June 18th
We are working on several items that will help facilitate permit loads through the city. One of the items is a flow chart that has been created to cover all permits that are issued within the city, such as grading, encroachment/lane closures and haul routes, etc. The chart shows where each permit has to start and end and how long it takes at each of those departments to process the permit and move it along. We then will be able evaluate where permits are being delayed or where improvement could take place. This is going to be an education for both the city and industry and hopefully meet our goal of facilitating the permit process.
We have several other issues to discuss: weekend travel, increasing time of travel for variance loads, intermodal port haulers annual permits, intermodal permit language, and insurance, etc. If you have any questions answered or issues raised, please let us know.
County of Napa – Advance notice required for Transportation Permits.
We received several calls from members in Napa County that the county was going to require two to three days advance notice to obtain a transportation permit. After talking with the County Road Department, it was very apparent that they were being challenged with staff shortages and possible furloughs. This rule isn’t actually a new one, just one they wanted to remind industry that is has always been in place and they are noticing more and more last minute rushes to have equipment moved.
We explained to that if they issue Annual Permits it would help most local haulers and were told that they do issue Annuals on certain routes and mirror Caltrans Annual, which is 5-axle 12’ wide legal height and 65’ long. We requested an increase in the dimensions, but were informed that they have some very narrow roads. We mentioned that Caltrans routes a 7-axle purple weight carrier and legal weight on the dolly as a 5-axle and if the county would consider recognizing the same as Caltrans as they are mirroring Caltrans now. I was asked to submit a few drawings and permits and it would be considered on certain routes. That is a start, which opens up doors for future opportunity,
Industry also needs to understand that these doors can be closed as fast as there opened if we’re not following the rules. If a locality finds some not following the rules, we all suffer and additional restrictions are placed on everyone else. Make sure your dispatcher and drivers understand the consequences and whenever you have the opportunity early, get your permits in ASAP; help with the problem by doing your part.
City of Rancho Cucamonga – Local agency contract specifications are becoming more burdensome in a time where we’re supposed to be “stimulating” the economy.
We recently received a call from a member that was reviewing plan specifications for the Diemen Basin Fill project, which is a new Fire Station for the City of Rancho Cucamonga and was disturbed with the entirely new requirement. The New Specification would require “All drivers/operators have a clean driving record with no points, among other items, including:
10-5 CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBILTIES
Before the start of the project, the Contractor will give each truck driver an information sheet showing the designated Haul Route, the designation Ingress and Egress Routes and a list of the operating rules for this project.
Likewise, the Contractor is responsible to ensure that
a) All drivers/operators have a “clean driving record with no points”.
b) All on-site vehicles, truck-trailer and trailers possess current inspection certificates and up to date quarterly CVSA stickers.
c) Each on-site vehicle, truck-trailer and trailers possesses current vehicle registration and insurance.
The Contractor is reminded that ensuring an initial compliance of the above driver/vehicle requirement is not sufficient. The Contractor must be diligent to ensure that all drivers and vehicles are in compliance with the above requirements for the entire length of the project.
The Contractor will schedule the hauling operations to prevent congestion along the Haul Route.
At the end of the work day, the Contractor will be required to secure the Dirt Stockpile Site and the Fill Site to prevent unauthorized access to either site.
The Contractor will not be allowed to perform maintenance or repair work on any construction equipment before or after the working hours stated on Section 6-7 of these specifications.
All Costs associated with these requirements shall be included in the bid item for “Mobilization” and no additional costs will be considered.
The City will fill all existing potholes along the haul route before the start of hauling operations. The Contractor is required to promptly fill any potholes that form or reopen as a result of the dirt hauling operations. The costs of maintaining the street pavement shall be included in the bid item for “Maintenance of Pavement”
We were first led to believe that because the material was coming out of a San Bernardino Flood Control basin that it was their project. We immediately contacted San Bernardino Supervisor Paul Biane’s Chief of Staff, Matt Brown, who has always been helpful in the past, and he discovered that it used to be a San Bernardino County property, but had been sold the City of Rancho Cucamonga.
We then contacted the City’s Engineering Department and discussed what appeared to be a misunderstanding. We explained that the Department of Motor Vehicles already has a process in place, which is the same point system they are referring too. I expressed that this completely unnecessary to start requiring excess of what the Vehicle Code and our Legislature have already put into place to monitor truckers’ driving records and is also a requirement of the company to make sure when a driver has had his license suspended, that doesn’t continue to drive,
The department staff person that we spoke with was going to have to get back to us; he wasn’t sure the reason behind the new additional language. He said that the city met with the local Sheriff and CHP and they agreed with the language. We expressed our opinion that this would appear to be in total conflict of the CHP’s role, which is to enforce the law.
We contacted the Commercial Offices for the CHP in Los Angeles and San Bernardino to explain the situation and to see who’s been having these conversations with the city. Both CHP Commanders didn’t know who they had been talking too, but they would also look into from their end. We explained that industry doesn’t have a problem meeting the requirements of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) 90-day safety inspections. We do not promote the travel or use of unsafe vehicles.
The city finally understood our issue and agreed the language will be changed to something to the effect that all drivers will comply with the Vehicle Code. We agreed that would be very much acceptable of our industry.
Our concern is that our industry continues to be regulated and regulated and then regulated again and there is no end in sight. This case is a perfect example. Local agencies are going to have to understand that these increased regulations are only running up their cost of the projects and their money will go a lot further if they understand that they have to take the stranglehold off our industry, specifically when it comes to import/export. We have localities limiting the trucking in some case to 6 hours or less, not even taking into consideration that project isn’t next to a school or metropolitan areas with high congestion.
Be sure to watch your project specifications and if you see any other unreasonable requirements, let us know immediately. The last thing we want to see happen is the specification list above start being adopted in other localities. That’s how problems really begin to grow. We need to stop these types of policy change immediately.
We do appreciate the cooperation we received by the County, CHP Commanders and the City of Rancho Cucamonga.
City of Tustin – Signage going up. Caltrans is sending out notices to all Annual Permit holders.
Tustin has agreed to increase the number of City Limit signs before you actually enter the City Limits, which will help, but when you’re in the City of Tustin on the 261, it’s really too late, you’re committed.
The 261 Toll Road is a Red Route, which has travel restrictions and in this case there are no loads permitted over 13’-0” wide and most of the loads are covered under an Annual permit. When applying for a single trip, the current permit program will notify you that a permit is required by the City of Tustin if you are traveling beyond the I-5 Freeway. Caltrans will be sending out notices to all Annual Permit holders to inform them of the City of Tustin Permit that is required when traveling on the 261 into the City of Irvine.
Safety Meetings –
This is perfect time to dedicate your time to educate your drivers/dispatchers on the importance of transportation permits and knowing how to read them, measuring each load and understanding map books. These three issues will keep your drivers out of harm’s way and travel safer down the highway. There are plenty of other topics, but for those that aren’t already holding safety meetings this will get you started.
Reaffirming Our Purpose:
If you have any problems with a local agency (city/county/state) and you find yourself asking ‘why are we having to do things this way’ and the agency tells you, ‘this is the way we have always done it’, let us know. We are here to make California transportation operations as smooth, efficient and safe as possible.
Respectfully submitted,
Gregory D. Dineen
Industry Transportation Consultant
cc:
John Hakel, AGC
Aimee Shook, DCA
Richard Lambros, BIA
Jim Burton, ECA
Michael Vlaming, COA
Lee Steinberg, MCOG
Eric Sauer, CTA
William E. Davis, SCCA
Jeff Hunter, CTTA
Doug Ball, SC&RA
Lee Brown, CDTOA
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