over length in most states

flifisher wrote:

oldchief7155 wrote:
Darn, 33 years on the California Highway Patrol including time as a commercial unit supervisor and I called it the wrong thing for all those years as did and still do the current officers.

Explain why it is called triple "towing" when only two vehicles are being towed.

Explain why commercial drivers license endorsement says doubles towing. There is also an endorsement for pulling three commercial trailers in states where it is legal, and amazingly it is called triples towing.

X2

My CA. License says the same thing. In CA. two trailers are considered doubles. (65' OAL)

I tow doubles, fifth wheel and boat trailer, and I e mailed California Dept. of Transportation, HQ Traffic Operations, Office of Truck Services, Truck Size & Weight Unit and asked them to clarify Over All Length. The following is the reply.
" Thank you for contacting the Office of Truck Services. Length is measured from the front bumper of the truck to the end of the boat trailer, not the load on the trailer (the boat in this case). The load on the trailer that extends past the last point of support is considered overhang."

My OAL is 64'-9" plus 18" over hang. Hope the e mail will keep me on the road.:h

You better keep a copy of that email with you then because I don't think it's accurate. Or at least it's not accurate as it pertains to other length laws, so who knows with California. Maybe our retired CHP officer can clarify. I did some research on the 40 foot rule as it applies to vehicles traveling on restricted roads. In that case, the law specifically says that any overhanging load is counted in the overall length for the restriction. But for the drivers license law in California that requires the non-commercial Class B to drive a vehicle over 40 feet, only the vehicle itself is counted and not things like bike racks or overhanging load.