BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1772
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Date of Hearing: April 5, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Bonnie Lowenthal, Chair
AB 1772 (Mendoza) - As Introduced: February 9, 2010
SUBJECT : Gross vehicle weight: idle reduction technology
SUMMARY : Authorizes a vehicle equipped with idle reduction
technology to exceed gross vehicle weight limits by the weight
of the idle reduction technology, or up to 400 pounds.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Authorizes vehicles equipped with idle reduction technology to
exceed gross vehicle weight limits by as much as the idle
reduction technology equipment, or 400 pounds, whichever is
less.
2)Requires a vehicle operator, upon request by a law enforcement
officer, to provide proof that the idle reduction technology
is fully functional at all times and the gross vehicle weight
increase is due only to this equipment.
3)Defines "idle reduction technology" consistent with federal
law.
EXISTING LAW:
4)Sets forth truck weight limits, including specific weight
limits for individual axles, individual wheels, and gross
vehicle weight.
5)Imposes fines for exceeding truck weight limits.
6)Defines, under federal law, "idle reduction technology" to
mean an advance truck stop electrification system, auxiliary
power unit, or technology that is used to reduce long-duration
idling and allows for the main drive engine or auxiliary
refrigeration engine to be shut down.
7)Authorizes states, under the federal Energy Policy Act of
2005, to adjust heavy-duty vehicle weight limits to
accommodate for the weight of idle reduction technology.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
AB 1772
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COMMENTS : Regulations limiting idling of commercial
diesel-engine vehicles to five minutes have been in effect since
2005, except for sleeper berth trucks for which regulations have
been in effect since January of 2008. Anti-idling regulations
require 2008 and newer model year heavy-duty diesel engines
either to be equipped with a system that automatically shuts
down the engine after five minutes of idling or, optionally, to
meet a stringent oxides of nitrogen idling emission standard.
(Operators of sleeper berth-equipped trucks are required to
manually shut down their engine when idling more than five
minutes at any location within California.)
California Air Resources Board (CARB) staff and local air
quality officials enforce the idling regulations by monitoring
sleeper berths and commercial diesel vehicles where they
operate. First time violations for idling for greater than five
minutes, receive a minimum civil penalty of $300. Subsequent
penalties can be from $1,000 to $10,000.
According to CARB, diesel exhaust contains a variety of harmful
gases and over 40 other known cancer-causing compounds. In
1998, California identified diesel particulate matter as a toxic
air contaminant based on its potential to cause cancer,
premature death, and other health problems.
Each year, diesel particulate matter contributes to 2000
premature deaths, thousands of hospital admissions, asthma
attacks and other respiratory symptoms and lost workdays. Diesel
engine emissions are responsible for the majority of
California's known airborne cancer risks, and cause visibility
reduction.
This bill is sponsored by the California Trucking Association
(CTA). CTA asserts that AB 1772 will allow California's
truckers to regain the payload they lost when they were mandated
to install idle reduction technology.
Writing in opposition to this bill, the League of California
Cities argues that the increased truck weights puts other users
of city streets-motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists,
and bus riders-at increased risk. Additionally, it argues that
increased truck weights will have a negative impact on the
integrity of streets and roads, which are already in need of
repair or rebuilding in many areas of the state.
AB 1772
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Suggested amendments: The intent of this bill is to allow tucks
to carry the same amount of cargo that they would otherwise be
able to carry except for the weight added by idle reduction
technology (or up to 400 pounds).
Fully loaded trucks virtually never reach the allowable gross
vehicle weight of 80,000 pounds. This is due to the fact that
the front axle is rarely loaded to its maximum allowable weight
of 12,000. Instead, fully loaded trucks typically have a gross
vehicle weight of about 76,000 pounds.
This bill would allow the overall gross vehicle weight to
increase up to 80,400 pounds, notwithstanding the individual
axle limits. As a result, the bill could potentially allow for
an increase in the overall weight limit by about 4,000 pounds,
all of which would most likely be distributed on axles that are
already at the maximum allowable weight. This additional weight
could have a significant impact on the condition of the roadway
pavement.
The author has agreed to take amendments in committee to provide
an allowance for the idle reduction equipment only on the first
set of the tandem axles, instead of by increasing the allowable
gross vehicle weight. In this way, the bill would accommodate
the idle reduction technology without resulting in undue damage
to the roadways.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
California Trucking Association (sponsor)
Opposition
League of California Cities
Analysis Prepared by : Janet Dawson / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093