All truck owners and operators in California are subject to strict state and federal regulations. Adhering to these rules is essential for reducing accidents and promoting safety on our state’s roads and highways. If you have suffered injuries in an accident due to suspected infringement of trucking laws, you have the right to hold those at fault responsible. The aggressive and knowledgeable attorneys at Carcione, Henderson & Markowitz, LLP can be your advocates in fighting for the compensation you deserve. Call us today or contact us online for a free consultation with a California truck accident lawyer.

California Truck Speed Limits

Commercial vehicles in California face stricter speed regulations than passenger vehicles. Under California trucking laws, large commercial vehicles, including 18-wheelers and semi-trucks, must adhere to specific speed limits designed to enhance road safety. On most California highways, trucks are limited to 55 mph, even when passenger vehicle speed limits are higher at 65 or 70 mph. This differential creates a critical safety buffer, particularly on mountain slopes and winding roads common throughout San Mateo County and the Bay Area.

For vehicles towing trailers, additional restrictions apply, with maximum speeds typically capped at 55 mph regardless of posted limits. These California trucking regulations are strictly enforced. Penalties for violations may include substantial fines, points on commercial driver’s licenses, and potential increases in insurance premiums for both drivers and carriers.

At CHM Law Firm, our legal team carefully examines speeding violations when investigating truck accidents, as they often constitute negligence and substantially increase the severity of collisions.

California Truck Weight Limits

The California truck weight limits are designed to protect infrastructure and enhance safety. The maximum overall weight limit for commercial vehicles is 80,000 pounds, though this maximum is subject to proper distribution across axles. Generally, single axles are limited to 20,000 pounds, while tandem axles can carry up to 34,000 pounds when equipped with appropriate tire weight capacity ratings.

Exceeding these weight limits creates serious safety hazards. Overloaded trucks require significantly longer stopping distances, are more prone to tire blowouts, and can experience mechanical failures that lead to catastrophic accidents. When weight violations contribute to accidents, multiple parties may share liability, including the following:

  • The truck driver responsible for accepting the load
  • The shipping company that loaded the vehicle
  • The trucking company that may have encouraged or tolerated overloading
  • Weighing station operators who failed to identify violations

CHM Law Firm investigates weight compliance in every truck accident case, obtaining weigh station records, shipping manifests, and other documentation to establish whether weight violations contributed to our clients’ injuries.

California Height, Width, and Length Rules for Trucks

Size restrictions are a crucial component of California trucking regulations designed to ensure commercial vehicles can safely navigate the state’s infrastructure. These dimensional limits include:

  • Height – Limited to 14 feet
  • Width – Restricted to 8.5 feet
  • Length for Single-Unit Vehicles – 40 feet (with exceptions for buses and motorhomes up to 45 feet on certain routes)
  • Length for Combinations – Varies between 65 feet, 75 feet, or unlimited, depending on the specific route
  • Kingpin-to-Rear-Axle (KPRA) Length – Must not exceed 40 feet

Oversized loads require special permits and may need escort vehicles. Trucks exceeding these dimensional limits without proper permits risk collisions with bridges, tunnels, and other infrastructure, potentially causing devastating multi-vehicle accidents.

For victims of accidents involving improperly sized commercial trucks, these violations can strengthen liability claims against trucking companies. At CHM Law Firm, our attorneys are well-versed in size restriction regulations and how they affect accident investigations and liability determinations.

California CDL Requirements

Several requirements apply to individuals wishing to obtain and maintain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) in California.

Age Requirements

The minimum age to operate a commercial vehicle within California state lines (intrastate) is 18 years. However, for interstate commerce (crossing state lines), federal regulations require drivers to be at least 21 years old. Younger, less experienced drivers statistically have higher accident rates, which is why CHM Law Firm carefully examines driver age and experience when investigating truck accident claims.

License Requirements

Obtaining a CDL in California requires several steps, including the following:

  • Obtaining a commercial learner’s permit and holding it for at least 14 days
  • Passing vision and medical examinations
  • Successfully completing knowledge tests for the appropriate vehicle class
  • Completing a minimum of 15 hours of behind-the-wheel training (for Class A or B licenses)
  • Passing a skills test demonstrating proficiency with the commercial vehicle

When trailer-tractor or big rig accidents involve drivers with improper licensing, this creates a strong presumption of negligence that a skilled San Mateo truck accident attorney can leverage in injury claims.

Endorsement Requirements

Beyond the basic CDL, specialized endorsements are required for operating certain vehicles or carrying specific cargo, such as the following:

  • Hazardous materials (H endorsement)
  • Tank vehicles (N endorsement)
  • Passenger transport (P endorsement)
  • School bus operation (S endorsement)
  • Double/triple trailers (T endorsement)

Each endorsement requires additional testing to ensure drivers have the specialized knowledge necessary to safely operate these high-risk vehicles.

Hazmat Transportation Requirements

Transporting hazardous materials requires the strictest level of compliance. Drivers must do the following:

  • Obtain an H endorsement through additional testing
  • Complete a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) background check
  • Follow specific route restrictions, particularly in urban areas like San Mateo
  • Maintain proper hazard placards on their vehicles
  • Follow stringent loading, unloading, and containment procedures

When hazmat carriers fail to follow these regulations, the consequences can be catastrophic, resulting in toxic exposure, fires, or explosions.

California Load Securement Rules for Trucks

Improperly secured cargo presents a significant safety hazard on California highways. Under California trucking laws, all cargo must be firmly immobilized or secured using appropriate restraints, including straps, chains, tensioners, or dunnage bags. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) provides detailed requirements for securing specific types of cargo, from lumber to heavy machinery.

Both drivers and loading personnel are responsible for ensuring that cargo is properly secured before a trip begins. Drivers must also re-examine their loads within the first 50 miles of a trip and periodically throughout longer journeys. When shifting cargo contributes to accidents, multiple parties may share liability, including drivers, loading companies, and the trucking companies that employ them.

Requirements for Truck Owners and Fleet Managers

Truck owners and fleet managers bear significant responsibility under California trucking regulations for maintaining safe operations. Their obligations include the following:

When these responsibilities are neglected, truck owners and fleet managers can be held directly liable for accidents caused by mechanical failures or driver negligence.

Trucking Insurance Coverage Requirements

California trucking laws mandate the following minimum insurance coverage levels for commercial vehicles based on the type of cargo carried:

  • Non-Hazardous Cargo in Interstate Commerce – $750,000 minimum liability coverage
  • Hazardous Materials – $1 million to $5 million, depending on the specific materials transported
  • Intrastate General Freight Carriers – Minimum of $750,000 in liability coverage
  • Household Goods Carriers – $300,000 for vehicles under 10,000 pounds, $750,000 for heavier vehicles

These minimum requirements often prove inadequate in serious accident cases involving catastrophic injuries or multiple victims. At our truck accident law firm, we investigate all potential insurance coverages, including excess and umbrella policies, to help our clients gain access to the compensation they deserve.

Federal Trucking Regulations

In addition to state laws, California trucking regulations incorporate numerous federal requirements governed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Key federal regulations include the following:

These federal regulations establish minimum safety standards, but California often implements stricter requirements. Understanding the interplay between state and federal regulations is crucial when determining liability in truck accident cases. CHM Law Firm’s attorneys stay current on both California and federal regulations affecting the trucking industry.

Get in Touch with a California Trucking Accident Lawyer

In the aftermath of a truck crash or, worse, a fatal truck accident, an uncertain future can quickly overwhelm victims and their families. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving a commercial truck or big rig, understanding the regulations that may have been violated is crucial to securing fair compensation.

At Carcione, Henderson & Markowitz, LLP, our dedicated San Mateo truck accident lawyers have spent over four decades fighting for victims of serious truck collisions throughout California. We have the experience to identify regulatory violations that strengthen your case and maximize your truck accident compensation. These skills and knowledge have helped us recover hundreds of millions of dollars for victims of serious accidents throughout California.

Let us give you the support and advocacy you need throughout this challenging time. We are ready to hear your story, meet your loved ones, and do everything we can to learn how we can best help you. Contact CHM Law Firm today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a truck accident lawyer in San Mateo.