BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó






           SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE       BILL NO: SB 469
          SENATOR MARK DESAULNIER, CHAIRMAN              AUTHOR:  Corbett
                                                         VERSION: 1/6/14
          Analysis by:  Nathan Phillips                  FISCAL:  NO
          Hearing date:  January 14, 2014


          SUBJECT:

          Aerodynamic devices and tarping systems on trucks

          DESCRIPTION:

          This bill allows tractor-trailers to exceed length limits by up  
          to five feet in order to accommodate an aerodynamic device; also  
          includes tarping systems as exceptions to vehicle width limits. 

          ANALYSIS:

          Aerodynamic devices use technologies that minimize drag and  
          improve airflow over an entire tractor-trailer vehicle, and  
          under state law they may not have the primary purpose of  
          advertising.

          Current state law limits the length of vehicles and combinations  
          of vehicles coupled together from exceeding a total length of 65  
          feet, with certain, specified exceptions, including an exception  
          that allows 75-foot long truck tractor-trailer combinations,  
          provided no trailer exceeds 28 feet, 6 inches.  Under existing  
          law, any extension or device used to increase the carrying  
          capacity of a vehicle is generally included in measuring the  
          length of a vehicle, subject to certain exceptions.

          Current state law limits the width of a vehicle to no more than  
          102 inches, with certain exceptions, including that a vehicle  
          may have an aerodynamic device, as defined, that extends up to 3  
          extra inches beyond each side of the vehicle.  Existing law  
          prohibits an aerodynamic device from adversely impacting the  
          vehicle's swept width and turning characteristics.

          SB 12 (Corbett), Chapter 727, Statutes of 2012, exempted  
          aerodynamic devices from width, but not length, limit  
          calculations.

          This bill also replaces the terms "swept width and turning  
          characteristics" with "turning radius" as they pertain to  




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          prohibiting adverse turning characteristics of trucks. 

          "Tarping Systems" have been defined in federal code for over 11  
          years, but are not defined in California law.  "Tarping Systems"  
          are defined as "moveable device[s] used to enclose the cargo  
          area of flatbed semitrailers or trailers."

           This bill  :  

           Exempts an aerodynamic device that extends up to five feet  
            beyond the rear of a vehicle from inclusion in a vehicle's  
            length calculation if the device does not obscure tail lights  
            and other required safety devices; and does not have the mass,  
            strength, or rigidity to damage a vehicle or injure a  
            passenger in a vehicle that strikes it from the rear.


           Prohibits an aerodynamic device from affecting the vehicle's  
            turning radius, as defined, or interfering with the vehicle's  
            ability to complete a turn. 


           Exempts tarping systems that extend up to three inches on a  
            vehicle side from inclusion in vehicle width limit  
            calculations. 


          COMMENTS:

           1.Purpose of the bill  .  This bill purposes to align state law  
            with federal law in two respects.   First, this bill allows  
            use of aerodynamic devices that extend up to five feet beyond  
            the length of a truck.  Aerodynamic devices reduce air flow  
            friction and turbulence, thereby improving fuel economy and  
            reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving the stability  
            of trucks.  
             
             Second, this bill exempts tarping systems, extending up to  
            three inches on each side of a vehicle, from vehicle width  
            limit calculations.  The addition of tarping systems to this  
            bill is at the request of the CHP.  Because it would change  
            the same section of the Vehicle Code proposed for aerodynamic  
            devices, it makes sense to include tarping systems in this  
            bill.

            Both changes (aerodynamic device and tarping systems) will  




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            provide consistency with other states and makes compliance  
            easier for trucks travelling in multiple states.

          2.          Bill History  .  Last year, by a 37-0 vote, the Senate  
          passed a similar bill, SB109 (Corbett).  
            The author amended SB109 to address another matter.  This bill  
            includes an element not in SB 109 (tarping systems).

          3.  Triple referral  .  The Rules Committee has referred this bill  
            to this committee and both the Governance and Finance  
            Committee and the Appropriations Committee.  The Rules  
            Committee made these referrals based on the previous version  
            of this bill.  The author deleted that language from the bill  
            with the January 6th amendments. 

          POSITIONS:  (Communicated to the committee before noon on  
          Wednesday, 
                     January 8, 2014.)

               SUPPORT:  ATDynamics Inc. 
                         California Police Chiefs Association, Inc. 
                         California Trucking Association
          
               OPPOSED:  None received.