AB 517

Under current law, a person may not operate on a highway any combination of

two vehicles (vehicle combination) with an overall length in excess of 65 feet unless

a specific exception applies or the person has a permit to exceed these lengths.

This bill increases the generally applicable overall length limit for vehicle

combinations from 65 feet to 70 feet. However, the Department of Transportation

(DOT) may, by rule, establish exceptions to this general length limit with respect to

specific types of vehicles or designated highways. Under the bill, motor bus-trailer

combinations owned and operated by, and for the exclusive use of, nonprofit

organizations are subject to the general length limit of 70 feet, an increase from their

length limit of 58 feet under current law.

Under current law, there is an exception to the general length limit that allows

for the operation of tractor-semitrailer combinations with an overall length not

exceeding 75 feet on the state trunk highway system except those parts designated

by DOT by rule as ineligible for this length limit or as long truck routes for which

there is no length limit. In addition, there is an exception to the general single vehicle

length limit that allows for the operation of a semitrailer as part of a vehicle

combination if the semitrailer does not exceed 53 feet, its kingpin-to-axle length

does not exceed 43 feet, and it is operated on the state trunk highway system except

those parts designated by DOT by rule as ineligible for this length limit.

Under this bill, this 75 feet length limit exception for tractor-semitrailer

combinations, and this 53 feet length limit exception for certain semitrailers, apply

on all highways, not just state trunk highways, subject to the same exceptions for

designated ineligible highways or long truck routes that apply under current law.

Under current law, the overall length limit for combinations of two or three

vehicles operated or transported by the drive-away method in saddlemount

combination is 65 feet. The term "saddlemount combination" is neither defined nor

described by statute, but DOT defines it by rule as a combination of vehicles in which

a truck or truck tractor tows one or more trucks or truck tractors, each connected by

a saddle to the vehicle in front of it; the towed vehicles essentially piggyback the

power unit or one another. Also under current law, DOT and local authorities may

issue permits for combinations of two or three vehicles operated or transported by

the drive-away method in saddlemount combination with an overall length not

exceeding 65 feet.

This bill increases, from 65 feet to 75 feet, the length limit for combinations of

two or three vehicles operated or transported by the drive-away method in

saddlemount combination. In addition, the bill eliminates provisions of current law

related to the issuance of permits for these vehicle combinations.

The bill also increases, from 65 feet to 66 feet, the vehicle length limit for

articulated buses operated in urban areas.