Feeling a little stupid about CA speed limit......

are12 · Aug 21, 2006

I already posted under Woman's View but thought I would post here for the ones that don't go in that forum:

How many of you know that if you drive a straight truck that you can do the same speed limits as the 4 wheelers???
I must admit, we feel pretty silly since we have been to CA on numerous occasions and never knew this until last week when we crossed over from Oregon and saw the sign. My husband even had me stop at the 1st weight station to double check with DOT that we read the sign right and they said yes, that they are only worried about the trucks with 3 axles or more and autos hauling trailers.
So, what a kick in the a** that was since all the other times we have been in CA, we always thought our speed limit was 55.
Now we can run CA without all the stress of watching for bears!!!

mcbride · Aug 21, 2006

RE: Feeling a little stupid about CA speed limit..

Don't feel bad we thought the same about California. We kinda ran into a snag tho...we have a pusher axle. So, are we a 2 axle when it is up? Stopped at the scale and asked and they told us...."this may be a questionable thing." So, still don't know if we are a 2 axle truck when the pusher is lifted or if we are a 3 axle truck. LOL

-mcbride-
--What goes around comes around--

greg334 · Aug 21, 2006

RE: Feeling a little stupid about CA speed limit..

Let me see, same as a 4 wheeler - so does this mean you can do 20 MPH in LA?

Jefferson3000 · Aug 21, 2006

RE: Feeling a little stupid about CA speed limit..

>Let me see, same as a 4 wheeler - so does this mean you can
>do 20 MPH in LA?

Hahaha! True stuff. Or drive less than 20 during rush hour in the summer and count how many cars overheat and burn to the ground in front of you.....

Drive Safe!

Jeff

Broompilot · Aug 21, 2006

RE: Feeling a little stupid about CA speed limit..

I have seen the sign as well. With that printed here, all other signs in the state say trucks, and cars with trailers. You stated that you asked a DOT officer and this is true correct?

bernieh48 · Aug 21, 2006

RE: Feeling a little stupid about CA speed limit..

We called CHP direct and asked about the lift axle question and they said unless it is down you can do the car speed limit. He said the only time you have to obey the truck limits is when you have your extra axle down or if you are going down mountain grades then you have to do the posted truck limits.

LDB · Aug 21, 2006

RE: Feeling a little stupid about CA speed limit..

I've never been but this is a plenty stupid regulation. I'm the same overall size but because I've got 10 wheels on the ground I can't drive as fast as somebody with 6 wheels on the ground. I've even got an extra set of brakes the 6 wheeler doesn't have. More laws illustrating the abject stupidity of lawmakers.

Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5507, 5508, 5509
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
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Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

wallytrucker1 · Aug 21, 2006

RE: Feeling a little stupid about CA speed limit..

I stopped at the Donner scale on I 80 and one of those hitler types referenced in another post told me as long as tag is up, run with the cars but adhere to limitations on grades. He also said ALL CHP officers might not be aware of this distinction, so be prepared to explain. I never had any problem; I think they look at you like a U-haul, Hope this helps.....

mcbride · Aug 21, 2006

RE: Feeling a little stupid about CA speed limit..

We called CHP direct and asked about the lift axle question and they said unless it is down you can do the car speed limit. He said the only time you have to obey the truck limits is when you have your extra axle down or if you are going down mountain grades then you have to do the posted truck limits.

===================================

Well, Thank you Bernie!

I agree Leo, with our pusher down we do have twice the breaking power etc. It makes little to know sense. It also makes no sense why we have to go 55 in MI, OH, or IL flat boring straight roads....but we can go 70 in WV where the curves and mountains can flip you right over!

-mcbride-

--What goes around comes around--

are12 · Aug 24, 2006

RE: Feeling a little stupid about CA speed limit..

>I have seen the sign as well. With that printed here, all
>other signs in the state say trucks, and cars with trailers.
> You stated that you asked a DOT officer and this is true
>correct?

Yep, we stopped at the scales on I5 when we crossed into CA from OR.
All 3 DOT officers agreed about the speed limit for 6 wheelers. But as mentioned, take it slower on the down grades!!

Tennesseahawk · Aug 24, 2006

RE: Feeling a little stupid about CA speed limit..

Very simple. The idea is that more axles = more weight. I hear what you're saying about the extra braking power, but that's also the potential for 20k more weight.

"If I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don't know." - Kansas