BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 64
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CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 64 (Donnelly and Linder)
As Amended August 27, 2013
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: | |(May 16, 2013) |SENATE: |38-0 |(September 11, |
| | | | | |2013) |
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(vote not relevant)
Original Committee Reference: TRANS.
SUMMARY : Permits a fifth-wheel travel trailer to be up to 48
feet in length so long as the distance between the kingpin to
rear axle meets specific length requirements.
The Senate amendments delete the Assembly version of this bill,
and instead:
1)Make an exception to the vehicle length limits for fifth-wheel
travel trailers, allowing these specific types of trailers to
be up to 48 feet in length provided the kingpin-to-rear axle
(KP-RA) distance meets the following requirements:
a) Is no longer than 38 feet for fifth-wheel trailers with
a single axle; and,
b) Is no longer than 40 feet for fifth-wheel trailers with
two or more axles.
1)Require that a fifth-wheel manufacturer provide information in
the delivery documents that are used for registering a
fifth-wheel trailer, including the KP-RA distance and overall
length of the trailer. Stipulates that the dealer may reject
acceptance of the fifth-wheel trailer if the manufacturer
fails to provide the required information.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Prohibits a vehicle from exceeding 40 feet in length.
2)Provides exemptions for length prohibitions on specific types
of vehicles, such as articulated buses or articulated trolley
coaches.
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3)Defines "vehicle" as a device by which any person or property
may be propelled, moved, or drawn upon a highway.
4)Defines "fifth-wheel travel trailer" as a vehicle designed for
recreational purposes to carry persons or property on its own
structure and is constructed to be drawn by a motor vehicle by
means of a kingpin connecting device.
5)Allows the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans),
with regard to state highways, to lower the maximum KP-RA
length restriction to less than 40 feet, however specifically
prohibits Caltrans from lowering the length restriction to
less than 38 feet.
6)Requires an applicant for a driver's license to take an
examination appropriate to the type of motor vehicle or
combination of vehicles the applicant wishes to drive.
Requires specific licensing requirements for the operation of
fifth-wheel travel trailer based upon the weight of the
trailer as specified.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.
COMMENTS : KP-RA length requirements for semitrailers that
operate on the state highway system have been extensively
studied and evaluated over time. A kingpin is the main pin used
to connect a semitrailer or fifth-wheel trailer to a truck,
which in the case of a fifth-wheel travel trailer is usually a
pickup. The KP-RA distance determines the width of the turning
radius of a truck-trailer combination. Generally, any increase
in the wheelbase of any vehicle in a combination of vehicles
will result in the vehicle combination using more of a road to
complete a turn.
In order to accurately assess the impact of a semi-trailer with
a specific KP-RA on the state highway system, Caltrans utilizes
an off-tracking computer model program. The off-tracking
computer model program provides the maximum swept width (msw)
for a vehicle through a turn. An "msw" is defined as the
maximum lateral dimension between the path described by the
front axle wheel located on the outside of the curve and the
non-circular path on the rearmost axle wheel located on the
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inside of a curve. The turning characteristics of vehicle
combinations are quantifiable and can be used as a measure of
compatibility between vehicle size and roadway geometry.
One important study to highlight was released in 1989 where
Caltrans conducted a study entitled "Truck Kingpin-To-Rear Axle
Length State Highway System Evaluation" as required by SB 2232
(McCorquodale), Chapter 1378, Statutes of 1986. In the study,
Caltrans warned that out of the 15,166 total miles of state
highway:
1) 22% (3,364 miles) could not accommodate trucks with 40 foot
KP-RA lengths.
2) 21% (3,185 miles) could not accommodate trucks with 38 foot
KP-RA lengths.
3) 18.6% (2,831) miles could not accommodate trucks with 30
foot KP-RA lengths.
This bill, if enacted, would legally allow for more fifth-wheel
travel trailers to operate on many of these roads Caltrans
evaluated in this study.
In order to operate a fifth-wheel travel trailer, a driver must
meet all Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) licensing
requirements. For a trailer with a gross vehicle weight rating
(GVWR) between 10,000 and 15,000 pounds, the driver must have a
Class C driver's license and also obtain a DMV issued Recreation
Trailer Endorsement, which includes the driver passing the
"Recreational Vehicles and Noncommercial Class A Trailers Law"
test, a vision test, and pay any required fees. For trailers
with a GVWR over 15,000 pounds, a driver must obtain a
restricted noncommercial Class A driver's license, which
includes the submittal of a physicians health report, passing
the abovementioned written test, and passing a driving test with
the vehicle and trailer. The provisions in this bill do not
change the licensing requirements for fifth-wheel travel
trailers that exceed 40 feet in lengthas DMV determines
licensing requirements based on the weight of the trailer, not
on its length.
However, inconsistency does exist in state law regarding the
length requirements for fifth-wheel travel trailers. State law
limits the length of any vehicle to 40 feet, with specified
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exceptions. Furthermore, state law provides that semitrailers
may have a maximum overall length of 65 feet, provided that the
KP-RA length does not exceed 40 feet for a two axle semitrailer
and 38 feet for a single axle trailer. Because fifth-wheel
travel trailers are defined as vehicles (despite the fact they
are designed and operate similar to semitrailers), state law
still limits them to no more the 40 feet in length. As a
result, persons who buy fifth-wheel travel trailers of greater
than 40 feet in length are not able to operate them legally in
California.
The author has introduced this bill to provide additional
clarity on the length requirements for fifth-wheel recreational
trailers. According to the author, fifth-wheel trailers
"exceeding 40 feet, measured from hitch to rear extremity, are
being driven today on California roads and are presently being
offered for sale by California RV dealers. This bill would make
all known fifth-wheels eligible for continued sale,
registration, and operation on our highways." By providing
clarification on the KP-RA and overall length requirements for
fifth-wheel trailers, this bill will bring the length
requirements for these trailers into alignment with similar
requirements currently in statute for semitrailers.
This bill was substantially amended in the Senate and the
Assembly-approved version of this bill was deleted. This bill,
as amended in the Senate, is inconsistent with Assembly actions
and the provisions of this bill, as amended in the Senate, have
not been heard in an Assembly policy committee.
Analysis Prepared by : Manny Leon / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093
FN: 0001982