BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 145
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   April 13, 2009

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
                                   Mike Eng, Chair
                    AB 145 (DeLeon) - As Amended:  March 31, 2009
           
          SUBJECT  :  Motor carriers: construction transportation brokers

           SUMMARY  :  Prohibits a construction transportation broker from  
          contracting or engaging the services of a motor carrier of  
          property that is out of compliance with existing law.   

           EXISTING LAW:   

          1)Prohibits a motor carrier from operating on the highway unless  
            it complies with systematic inspection and maintenance at  
            least every 90 days.  

          2)Requires a motor carrier to register its carrier  
            identification number with the Department of Motor Vehicles  
            (DMV).  

          3)Prohibits a motor carrier permit from being granted to any  
            motor carrier of property until proof of insurance, workers  
            compensation coverage, and payment of required fees is  
            provided.  

          4)Prohibits a motor carrier of property from subcontracting with  
            or engaging the services of a motor carrier unless that motor  
            carrier holds a valid permit issued by DMV.  

          5)Requires a contracted motor carrier to provide notification to  
            the person with whom they are under contract, if its permit  
            has been suspended or revoked.  

           FISCAL EFFECT  :  Unknown

           COMMENTS  :  Under existing law, a motor carrier is prohibited  
          from subcontracting with or engaging the services of another  
          motor carrier until the contracted motor carrier provides  
          certification of compliance with existing law and regulations.   
          A contracted motor carrier is required to provide notification  
          to the person with whom they are under contract, if its permit  
          has been suspended or revoked.  









                                                                  AB 145
                                                                  Page  2

          Every motor carrier of property must also obtain a carrier  
          identification number and hold a valid motor carrier permit from  
          DMV.  Adequate liability insurance, workers compensation  
          coverage, and completion of controlled substance and alcohol  
          testing program are also required.   

          Currently, a construction transportation broker can subcontract  
          or engage the services of a motor carrier without having to  
          verify that the subcontractor complies with all the requirements  
          of existing law, as is required of a motor carrier when they  
          subcontract work.  This bill seeks to address that gap in  
          current law by requiring that construction truck brokers also  
          verify that a subcontractor complies with existing law, as is  
          required of a motor carrier.  

          The author of this bill points out that an increasing trend is  
          taking place in the motor carrier industry that may be  
          jeopardizing road safety.  A growing number of construction  
          truck brokers that do not have a motor carrier permit or may not  
          be acting as a motor carrier when they are brokering, are  
          subcontracting work without verifying that a subcontractor has  
          complied with existing law requirements.  

          The sponsor of this bill, the California Dump Truck Owners  
          Association, adds that the "emerging growth of construction  
          truck brokers subcontracting work without having to legally  
          abide by existing law, clearly undermines the intent of statute  
          in ensuring safety and proper licensure."  

           REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :   

           Support 
           
          California Dump Truck Owners Association (sponsor)  

           Opposition 
           
          None on file  
           

          Analysis Prepared by  :   Alejandro Esparza / TRANS. / (916)  
          319-2093