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June 25, 2004
Construction
Industry Advancement Fund and CDTOA
Dear Trustees
and CDTOA EC:
Following are some of
the major issues your Industry Transportation Consultant
has been dealing with to date.
Caltrans has approved our request
from November 8, 2003, to the current Reducible Load Policy.
"Tow Legal Vehicle behind Extra Legal Fixed Load
Vehicle" was approved. This will allow self-propelled
vehicles to pull a vehicle behind to the jobsite and allow
the operator to leave the Crane on site. Currently the
Crane Companies either incur the cost of shuttling vehicles
to the jobsite or the operator having to drive crane.
The Industry will now be permitted to pull a trailer behind
the crane not to exceed 65' in length and/or 20,000 pounds.
This will allow self-propelled vehicles to take with them
to and from the jobsite parts, accessories or even a counter
weight. This will eliminate an extra vehicle that currently
is needed to carry such items.
This will all be allowed under their current Annual Permit.
For those that will take advantage of this change, a new
Annual Permit will need to be reissued at a prorated cost.
This change should be implemented approximately by August
13, 2004
Caltrans has approved our request
from November 8, 2003, Hours of Travel 24 / 7. There are
certain criteria that will need to be met, but for the
most part in Southern California we will be able to travel
nights and weekends on most routes. Purple Weight Loads
up to 250,000 lbs will be allowed up to 14' wide on a
Green Route and 16' wide on a Yellow Route. Green Routes
are conventional highways with twelve-foot lanes and a
paved shoulder less than four feet. Yellow Routes are
multilane freeways and two lane expressways. This will
allow more flexibility to do weekend work as a Contractor
if necessary to meet any dead lines. When your equipment
breaks down and you may not need to shut the job down
with this extra flexibility to have equipment on site
more quickly. The Pilot Car regulation has also changed,
were as a 2nd Pilot Car was required on loads exceeding
13 ft. and now has been increased to14 ft. We are working
with Caltrans on a few minor details and expect to be
implemented approximately on August 13, 2004.
Caltrans has also approved the Tridem
Axles proposal submitted by the work group to permit up
to 60,000 lbs. on a tridem axle group. Caltrans will allow
#60,000 based on certain configurations, 15% of chart
weight was approved. This will help most anyone with portable
plants, such as crushers and hot plants. They are generally
overweight and have to take parts off the unit to make
weights for transport. By having the plant re-inspected,
the weights can be increased and now will not be impacted
by extra labor hours and another truck to transport the
extra parts each time you need to move. This change should
be implemented approximately by August 13, 2004
Caltrans has approved the Crane Boom
Dolly proposal submitted by the work group. The policy
objective
allows all cranes that otherwise conform to permit policy
be allowed Current legal weight on the boom support vehicle.
The allowable axle weights will be determined from the
California Vehicle Code 35550. The boom support
vehicle will be limited to a total gross weight of 54,000
pounds. These cranes will qualify for five axles Annual
Permits. A change to Section305.3.6 of the California
Transportation Permits Manual is proposed to accomplish
this. Legal review by Caltrans will now be initiated and
possible California Code of Regulations changes and any
additional regulatory steps will be identified. This change
should be implemented approximately by August 13, 2004.
Caltrans has also approved the STAA
Annual Permits. What is a STAA truck? In
1982, the federal government passed the Surface Transportation
Assistance Act (STAA). This act requires states to allow
certain longer trucks on a network of federal highways,
referred to as the "National Network" (NN)."
A "STAA" truck is, in many cases, longer than
a "California Legal" truck, and may operate
only on specific highways in California. This will allow
a five-axle combination up to 75 feet long with a kingpin
up to 45 feet long on trailers up to 48 feet long. We
have numerous members that will appreciate this significant
change. This change should be implemented approximately
by August 13, 2004
Caltrans: We are currently proposing
a review of Caltrans policy in respect to Fixed Loads
or Self-propelled vehicles. We would like to see the fixed
loads treated the same as the Heavy Haul group. A Crusher
that is mounted on 16 tire group is permitted 700 lbs
more than what it actually weighs at the time the crusher
is inspected by Caltrans. Example: The Crusher weighs
56,300 lbs, I will permitted an extra 700 pounds for a
total of 57,000 lbs. I can take that same unit and put
it on a lowbed and be permitted 60,000 lbs anytime, whether
I weigh 56,000 makes no difference, I am still allowed
up to 60,000 pounds. We are trying to eliminate the time
in court and the Misdemeanor citations. We are not requesting
anything unreasonable that will benefit the Industry.
Caltrans: We are asking Caltrans
approve our proposal to issue 7-axle Annual Permits. We
recently requested Annual Permits for 7, 8 and 9 and axle
combination, but our proposal was tabled until further
notice. We feel that our Industry should have some relief
rather than only being issued single trip permits. We
would like to, at least for now, have a 7 axle Annual
permit. This will help our Industry considerably.
The County of Los Angeles is reviewing
their Hours of Travel policy to mirror Caltran's. The
County will also lower their permit fees from $16.00 to
$14.00 for a single trip permit. The Annual Permits will
be reduced from $90.00 to $85.00 as of July 1, 2004. There
will be an increase in fees for loads that exceed 250,000
lbs.
Supervisor Mike Antonovich's office is assisting
us in encouraging the other 50 cities of the 88 in LA
County, to allow the County to issue their transportation
permits. This would be a major step to one stop permit
shopping in any City.
The City of Lancaster has stopped
allowing Los Angles County to issue their permits and
will also be charging in excess what is mandated by C.V.C.
35795 (b) for Transportation Permits. This has been the
trend for cities that are looking for other areas of revenue.
We are currently working with the City.
The City of Calabasas will start
allowing permits to be issued via Fax. Currently you need
to send a runner to pick up in person or go through a
permit service that costs $40.00 or more. We are still
waiting for the City to lower their permit fees.
The City of Malibu has agreed to
lower their permit fees from $286.00 to $16.00 as per
C.V.V 35795 (b). They will charge an encroachment permit
for any truck that is blocking the road for what ever
reason. We are working with the City to resolve this issue
also.
The City of Redondo Beach has also
been requested to lower their permit fees from $50.00
to $16.00 as per C.V.C. 35795 (b). The City is reviewing
our requests.
City of Colton's City Council will lower their
permit fees to be consistent with C.V.C. 35795 (b) and
not charge in excess of Caltrans. The City has been charging
$120.00 for Annual Permit and our Industry should have
only been charged $90.00. The City has agreed to request
City Council for an ordinance change to revise their current
annual permit policy to allow more height, weight, night
and weekend travel.
The Coachella Valley: We are continuing meetings
with local officials on our proposal for uniform Legal
Truck Routes. We have the support of Assembly members,
Bonnie Garcia, John Benoit, Russ Bogh, Ray Haynes and
Senator Jim Battin.
The City of Santa Barbara has just approved a new
Permit Fee schedule that will exceed what is mandated
by C.V.C.35795 (b) in the amount of $368.00 per Annual
Permit. We are currently working with the City to resolve
this issue.
The City of Indio will be going to
City Council on July 7th for approval to start issuing
Annual Permits and approval of the uniform Truck Routes
based on Primary Roads in the Thomas Guide.
The City of Tracy is currently revising
their Truck Routes to eliminate any through truck traffic
in the City. There are numerous Material producers within
1000' of the City limits and the City is expecting the
Industry to travel as much as 6 extra miles out of their
way to make deliveries. This is not a unique problem.
We have these same types of problems throughout California.
The increase in miles puts more trucks on the road and
increases air pollution. Consumers pay the higher costs
of construction.
Sincerely,
Gregory D. Dineen
Industry Transportation Consultant
Cc: John Hakel, AGC Jim Burton, SCCA
Gary Futral, ECA Seth Hammond, MCOG
Richard Lambros, BIA Lee Brown, CDTOA
Aimee Shook, DCA
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