California Dump Truck Owners Association (CDTOA) - California Construction Trucking Association (CCTA)

We discussed the new 23114 VC section, regarding spilling loads and tarping of the vehicles. Both of us noted that no changes had been made to the text, but some very specific changes occurred in the penalty portion of the new section. Within this section, the fine for the infraction is $50 per incident. This led to a discussion of infractions and misdemeanors and how these offenses must be established.

California Vehicle Code §12804.9,

titled Examination and Driving Test states:
(a)(1) The examination shall include all of the following:
(E) A test of hearing and eye sight of the applicant, and of other matters that may be necessary to determine the applicant’s mental and physical fitness to operate a motor vehicle upon the highways, and whether any grounds exist for refusal of a license under this code.

You received an inquiry regarding the truck lanes on I 15 at the Cajon Pass. Specifically, the question posed was, can cars travel in this lane and can trucks move out of the lane to pass?

You received an inquiry regarding shared liability when loading a vehicle in thefield, with regard to overweight laws. The question being, who is at fault when a truck leaves a jobsite in an overladen condition?

I wrote an article in the July letter, regarding a member who had sought my advice regarding a citation that he had received. The citation was for disobeying roadway markings. The member is a truck driver employed by an organization which in turn was hired by CalTrans to perform construction.

This final rule was published in the March 25, 2003 Federal Register. All shippers and carriers of hazardous materials must assure that their employee training includes a security component.

For those of you who are not familiar with the Federal Register, it is a document issued by the federal government, where in they publish all of the new laws.

Following our conversation regarding lane usage and members receiving citations on the 60 and 215 freeways, I decided to checkout the area while conducting business in San Diego recently.

Westbound on SR60 there are three lanes for traffic and a carpool lane, as well as an exit lane to go n/s on the 215. After the junction, it goes from three lanes to two and regains this lane after Main Street.

I received a call from a member who had been stopped and required to mark his transport vehicle for flammable liquids.

There may be others out there that also must mark their vehicles in accordance with these regulations. Furthermore, with the new law in effect now, all vehicles that are placarded, or marked as required by the HazMat regulations must stop for all rail road crossings.

I attended a two day-seminar entitled “How to Comply with CAL/OSHA,” and I learned a few new things. Now before you decide this article does not apply to you, or you believe yourself to be exempt, ask yourself this question:

Am I a farmer and do I employ only the immediate members of my family to work the farm?