BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair
1772 (Mendoza)
Hearing Date: 08/12/2010 Amended: 04/07/2010
Consultant: Mark McKenzie Policy Vote: T&H 6-0
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BILL SUMMARY: AB 1772 would allow trucks equipped with idle
reduction technology to exceed the group axle weight limit by up
to 400 pounds or the actual weight of the idle reduction
technology, whichever is less.
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Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 Fund
Hwy pavement degradation unknown increased future
pavement Special*
rehabilitation costs, potentially
$1,000
annually in future years (see staff
comments)
CHP enforcement negligible impact on inspection
costsSpecial**
____________ and enforcement
* State Highway Account
** Motor Vehicle Account
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STAFF COMMENTS: SUSPENSE FILE.
Existing federal law defines "idle reduction technology" as an
advanced 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. The California Air Resources Board
(ARB) has adopted regulations that 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. Existing law also prescribes
vehicle weight limits imposed on the highway by any group of two
or more consecutive axles of heavy duty vehicles. Federal law
authorizes states to adjust these weight limits to accommodate
for the weight of idle reduction technology.
AB 1772 is intended to allow trucks that are subject to the
recent ARB regulations to restore the payload that was lost when
requirements to install idle reduction technology were
implemented. The bill would allow an exemption for the weight
of idle reduction technology, up to 400 pounds, from the group
axle weight limits in existing law. A driver would be required
to show proof that the idle reduction technology is functional
and that excess weight is solely due to the technology, upon
request by law enforcement.
The Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and local agencies
note that increasing weight limits would result in accelerated
degradation of highway pavement and local streets and roads, and
could require increased pavement thickness upon rehabilitation
to compensate for excess weight. Caltrans estimates that if
most trucks increased allowable weight by 400 pounds, pavement
damage would increase by an average of
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AB 1772 (Mendoza)
three percent. Since annual state highway rehabilitation needs
are approximately $1 billion, Caltrans indicates that pavement
rehabilitation costs could increase by as much as $30 million
per year. Staff notes that actual costs would likely be much
lower than this and would depend upon numerous factors, such as
the number of trucks that require installation of idle reduction
technology, the average weight of that technology, the extent to
which that weight would push a vehicle's group axle rate over
the maximum, and the number of these vehicles using the state
highway system. In addition, pavement degradation would occur
over time. Staff estimates this bill could eventually result in
pavement rehabilitation costs of up to $1 million annually. To
the extent that drivers use newer trucks that meet the more
stringent emission standards established by ARB regulations, and
fewer require the installation of idle reduction technology, the
fiscal impact related to heavier vehicles would decline.