Trailer gate....Goodbye NHRA in Ca

[George.]

53' + 3' genset. That's what I thought made up the so called- 56' trailer.
I would have a hard time believing any race team would order up an illegal trailer, and spend a half mill on something they may not be able to use for the whole tour, just to gain 3'.

I think the sore spot with Cal Dot is that Texas, N.M and Arizona all have legal 57' freight trailers running up and down the interstates. California want's no part of them, so this is how you must define the line. Large trailers cut into truck road tax collections by allowing 4' of free freight to roll. That's an extra 2 pallets of freight not paying road taxes.. for every 24 trucks, one load of taxes and work for a driver is lost.

1997 TRAILMOBILE 1997 TMO Aluminum 57' Van Dry Van Trailers For Sale At TruckPaper.com

 

[Deuce]

I drove for a major refrigerated carrier. The trailers were all 53' and we had 2-1/2' -3' hanging on the front of the trailer.

 

[George.]

I drove for a major refrigerated carrier. The trailers were all 53' and we had 2-1/2' -3' hanging on the front of the trailer.

The difference is that a reefer unit is considered exempt, and it doesn't incorporate the entire front of the trailer.
This trailer http://inlinethumb22.webshots.com/48661/2917288870085959624S600x600Q85.jpg kind of demonstrates the point. It incorporates the entire front.

 

[Jeff]

Clipped from the link below is a summary of the federal regulation for determining trailer length. Note the Alan R. font/color. It is my understanding that if you want to get federal funding for your highway, you are going to comply with these regulations. But admittedly, I'm far from an expert.

Federal Size Regulations for Commercial Motor Vehicles - FHWA

LENGTH AND WIDTH EXCLUSIVE DEVICES
States must allow certain devices to extend beyond the 2.6 m (102-inch) width limit of CMVs on the NN and reasonable access routes. These include rear-view mirrors, turn signal lamps, handholds for cab entry/egress, splash and spray suppressant devices, and load-induced tire bulge. Also excluded are non-property carrying devices that do not extend more than 3 inches beyond each side of the vehicle.

Devices excluded from the measurement of the length include 1) those needed for loading or unloading that do not extend more than 24 inches beyond the rear of the vehicle; 2) resilient bumpers that do not extend more than 6 inches beyond the front or rear of the vehicles; 3) aerodynamic devices that do not extend more than 5 feet beyond the rear of the vehicle, provided they do not have the strength, rigidity, or mass to damage a vehicle or injure a passenger in a vehicle that strikes a trailer so equipped from the rear, and do not obscure tail lamps, turn signals, marker lamps, identification lamps, or any other required safety devices, such as hazardous materials placards or conspicuity markings; and 4) non-property carrying devices that do not extend more than 3 inches beyond the rear of the vehicle. All devices at the front of a semitrailer or trailer are excluded from the measurement of length. Tarping systems for open top trailers or semitrailers are excluded provided no part of the system extends more than 3 inches from the sides or back of the vehicle. For more details on these exclusions, see 23 CFR 658.16 and appendix D to 23 CFR 658.

 

[Deuce]

The difference is that a reefer unit is considered exempt, and it doesn't incorporate the entire front of the trailer.
This trailer http://inlinethumb22.webshots.com/48661/2917288870085959624S600x600Q85.jpg kind of demonstrates the point. It incorporates the entire front.

There isn't much difference in the width. I can't find anything about the "reefer unit" being exempt.

They way I understand the rule in Ca. It's the king pin to rear axle measurement and overall length they're concerned with. Not the length of the trailer.

 

[Huge]

Clipped from the link below is a summary of the federal regulation for determining trailer length. Note the Alan R. font/color. It is my understanding that if you want to get federal funding for your highway, you are going to comply with these regulations. But admittedly, I'm far from an expert.

Federal Size Regulations for Commercial Motor Vehicles - FHWA

LENGTH AND WIDTH EXCLUSIVE DEVICES
States must allow certain devices to extend beyond the 2.6 m (102-inch) width limit of CMVs on the NN and reasonable access routes. These include rear-view mirrors, turn signal lamps, handholds for cab entry/egress, splash and spray suppressant devices, and load-induced tire bulge. Also excluded are non-property carrying devices that do not extend more than 3 inches beyond each side of the vehicle.

Devices excluded from the measurement of the length include 1) those needed for loading or unloading that do not extend more than 24 inches beyond the rear of the vehicle; 2) resilient bumpers that do not extend more than 6 inches beyond the front or rear of the vehicles; 3) aerodynamic devices that do not extend more than 5 feet beyond the rear of the vehicle, provided they do not have the strength, rigidity, or mass to damage a vehicle or injure a passenger in a vehicle that strikes a trailer so equipped from the rear, and do not obscure tail lamps, turn signals, marker lamps, identification lamps, or any other required safety devices, such as hazardous materials placards or conspicuity markings; and 4) non-property carrying devices that do not extend more than 3 inches beyond the rear of the vehicle. All devices at the front of a semitrailer or trailer are excluded from the measurement of length. Tarping systems for open top trailers or semitrailers are excluded provided no part of the system extends more than 3 inches from the sides or back of the vehicle. For more details on these exclusions, see 23 CFR 658.16 and appendix D to 23 CFR 658.

Thank's Jeff, that is the way I understood the rule to be.

 

[Deuce]

Thank's Jeff, that is the way I understood the rule to be.

That's the way I understood it also. I did get a reply from Caltrans to the contrary.

Dear Mr. Bigelow:

Thank you for contacting the California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans). Any equipment added to a semitrailer will be included in the
length of the semitrailer. If it is mounted on the front of the
semitrailer, it will not be included in the overall vehicle combination
length.

Please let me know if you have further questions.

Thank you,
Casey Robb
**************************************
Ms. Casey Robb, P.E. & Manuel Fonseca
California Dept. of Transportation
HQ Traffic Operations
Office of Truck Services, Truck Size & Weight Unit
Sacramento, CA
(916) 654-5741
[email protected]

 

[Rajunz]

So, are the trailers in question actually 56' long without any add ons?

 

[yoda]

Wouldn't be the first time that California had rules on the books that superceded the Fed. Their polution laws have always been more stringent than that of the EPA.

Not always enforced tho...