June 30, 2004

CTPAC - PROPOSAL

SUBJECT: Uniform Pilot Car Requirements for Green and Yellow Routes
DATE: June 30, 2004
POLICY: CTPAC - WG11 - 063004 -003

OBJECTIVE
Change the Pilot Car Table to eliminate Pilot Car requirement on green routes over 100' to 120' as is required on yellow routes for length.

BACKGROUND
Caltrans currently requires 1 pilot car on all green routes for loads exceeding 100' in length.

EXISTING DOCUMENTATION
Caltrans Transportation Permit Manual, Appendix 19 Pilot Car Table for California.

Appendix 19 Pilot Car Table
The Pilot Car Table for California requires Pilot Cars under following conditions:
Yellow Routes: Width exceeding 12' - 1 Pilot Car Length exceeding 120' - 1 Pilot Car
Green Routes: Width exceeding 12' - 1 Pilot Car Length exceeding 110' - 1 Pilot Car

Route Color Classification Guide
Yellow Routes are multilane freeways and two lane expressways.
Green Routes are conventional highways with twelve-foot (3.6 meters) lanes and a paved shoulder width greater than or equal to four feet (1.6 meters).

CURRENT PRACTICE
The Industry is required to have a Pilot Car escort the Truck whether it is empty or loaded when it exceeds 100' on a Green Route.

PROPOSED CHANGES
Transportation Permit Conditions
We are requesting that the Pilot Car requirement be changed on a Green Route to be consistent with those on a Yellow Route. The difference is that on a Green Route you are required to have a Pilot Car at 100' and on a Yellow Route 120'. The average 9-axle today is from 100' to 110', excluding the self-rear steering unit.

BENEFITS / IMPACT / JUSTIFICATION

BENEFITS
Safety is not jeopardized, Yellow and Green Routes are identical for the exception of the number of lanes on a Yellow Routes, and a Pilot Car isn't required until the load exceeds 120'. The requirements are the same for width.

Air Quality is a factor in our request. The requirements for a Pilot Car to escort the load burns unnecessary fuel and creates pollution.

Public Safety is a factor in our request. Fewer vehicles means fewer miles, fewer accidents, and fewer traffic fatalities.

Congestion Management is a factor in our request. Less vehicle miles equals less congestion.

We are requesting uniformity whenever the opportunity allows for it, and we believe that there is justification.

The Industry and the Consumers are incurring a Pilot Car cost that is not justified and is unnecessary. This cost could be as much as $200.00 per load or more.

There are also extreme costs, involved in determining when to have a Pilot car at a certain location to meet the Truck or visa versa. There is always someone waiting on the other, which brings up another issue. Where do you park a 100' Truck and Trailer? This has been costly all around, and our Contractors have been paying these extra charges and passing them on to us, the Consumer.

IMPACT
This will lead to fewer vehicles on the road creating Air Pollution, Traffic Congestion and traffic accidents.

JUSTIFICATION
The Original justification for a Pilot Car required at 100' on a Green Route was some 25 years ago. The deck length and the common 9-axle that was being manufactured at the time justified it. There was no scientific number or a study that developed the rule.

According to the Caltrans Route Color Classification Guide, the only difference between a Yellow Route and a Green Route are the number of lanes. A Yellow Route has 4 lanes of traffic and a Green Route has 2 lanes of traffic. They both have 12' lanes and a paved shoulder width greater than, or equal to, four feet. The Criteria of the cross section of the Highway is identical. These two routes are almost completely uniform exception for the number of lanes. There was never any real justification for this rule at the time and we are requesting that the Pilot Car requirements be uniform on a Yellow and Green Route.

SAFETY IS ENHANCED BY UNIFORMITY

We are requesting these changes in the best interests of Public Safety, Air Quality, better Congestion Management, and to better the Economy of California.

Respectfully submitted,

Gregory D. Dineen
Industry Transportation Consultant