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The multi-year efforts to change the California Code of Regulations (CCR) Fire Truck Exemptions has come to fruition.  See:

http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/trucks/exemptions/firetrucks-ccr.htm  

Which reads:

Note where I highlight,  or bold some critical changes
To see the version with Highlights you will need to download the following PDF:

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CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS

TITLE 21. Public Works
Division 2. Department of Transportation
Chapter 7. Transportation Permits
§1411.1. Definitions.

The following terms when used in this Chapter have the following meaning:
(a) "Department" means the California Department of Transportation.
(b) "Permits" means a Transportation Permit issued by the Department pursuant to Article 6 (commencing with Section 35780) of Division 15 of the California Vehicle Code.
(c) "Fire truck" means any fire apparatus defined in 35002(b)(3) of the California Vehicle Code.
(d) "Aerial platform ladder fire truck" means a fire suppression vehicle, or vehicle combination, equipped with an elevating platform that may include a continuous egress route from the elevated position to the ground.
(e) "Aerial ladder fire truck" means a fire suppression vehicle or vehicle combination equipped with a self-supporting, turntable mounted, power operated aerial ladder of two or more sections permanently attached to the vehicle and designed to provide a continuous egress route from the elevated position to the ground.
(f) "Aerial water tower fire truck" means a pumper fire truck equipped with a device consisting of permanently mounted power operated booms and a water way designed to supply a large capacity mobile elevated water stream. The booms may be of articulating design or telescoping design and may be equipped with a ladder for continuous egress.
(g) "Pumper fire truck" means a single unit fire suppression vehicle equipped with a fire pump, water tank, hose, and equipment designed for sustained pumping operations during fire fighting and supporting associated fire department operations.
Note: Authority cited for Article 9: Section 35795, Vehicle Code. Additional authority cited: Sections 14001, 14007, 14008 and 14010, Government Code and Sections 20 and 50, Streets and Highways Code. Reference: Section 35002, Vehicle Code. 

HISTORY

1. New article (§§1439, 1439.1 through 1439.5) filed 11-24-69 as an emergency; designated effective 1-1-70 (Register 69, No. 48). 
2. Certificate of Compliance -section 11422.1, Gov. Code, filed 12-31-69  (Register 70, No. 1). 
3. Renumbering from section 1439 filed 4-6-70; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 70, No. 15). 
4. Amendment of subsection (a) filed 8-7-73 as procedural and organizational; effective upon filing (Register 73, No. 32). 
5. New subsections (c)-(h) and amendment of Notefiled 8-23-93; operative 9-22-93 (Register 93, No. 35). 
6. Amendment of first paragraph and subsection (c) and repealer of subsection  (h) filed 6-2-2010; operative 7-2-2010 (Register 2010, No. 23).
21 CCR § 1411.1, 21 CA ADC § 1411.1
This database is current through 6/18/10 Register 2010, No. 25 
21 CA ADC § 1411.1
END OF DOCUMENT

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CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS

TITLE 21. Public Works
Division 2. Department of Transportation
Chapter 7. Transportation Permits
§1411.7. Fire Trucks.

(a) Any fire truck may exceed the maximum allowable weights of the Department’s Transportation Permit Program, but shall not exceed the following axle weight limits:

Axle Configuration	Max. allowable weight
Single steering axle (front and rear)	24,000 pounds
Single drive axle	31,000 pounds
Tandem axles	48,000 pounds
Tandem rear drive steer axles	48,000 pounds
Tridem axles	54,000 pounds

(b) A fire truck designed to carry a minimum capacity of 1,200 gallons and exceed axle weights authorized in California Vehicle Code Section 35551 or Section 35551.5 shall be permanently marked on the manufacturer’s GVW rating plate with the gallonage the fire truck is designed to carry.

(c) Tandem axles shall have a minimum axle spacing of 4 feet and tridem axles shall have a minimum axle spacing of 9 feet as measured from the centerline of the first axle to the centerline of the last axle in the axle group. Tandem axle spacing shall not exceed 8 feet and tridem axles shall not exceed 10 feet as measured from the centerline of the first axle to the centerline of the last axle in the axle group.
Except for front and rear steer axles, all axles within the same loading group shall have a common suspension system that naturally divides weight between all axles in the suspension group equally and equitably, both statically and dynamically under all loading conditions without any influence from an outside source.

(d) All fire truck axles shall have a minimum of 4 tires per axle, except for front and rear steer axles. Four-tired axles may be equipped with super single tires with a minimum of 18 inches (445 mm) of cross section and 19.5 inches of bead diameter. When super singles are used on a single axle application, the maximum weight on that axle shall be limited to 24,000 pounds. The tires must have a rated capacity marked on the sidewall of the tire as required by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Standard FMVSS 119. The sum of the rated capacities of the tires on the axle shall equal or exceed the axle weight.

(e) Fire truck axle weights shall not exceed the axle manufacturer’s rated axle capacity when the axles are equipped with axle components of a corresponding rating.

(f) Fire trucks may exceed width limitations provided in Division 15 of the California Vehicle Code but cannot exceed 120 inches. All fire trucks shall comply with the length, height, and overhang limitations of Division 15 of the Vehicle Code except that single-unit fire apparatus may have a maximum length of 52 feet provided that they travel on roads that can safely accommodate them, and fire trucks defined in sections 1411.1(d), (e) and (f) may have a maximum front overhang of 8 feet from the front bumper provided that the driver’s vision to the left and right is not impaired by the projecting or supporting structure. A fire truck with two parts coupled together at an articulation point is defined in this regulation as a "combination of vehicles," regardless of whether the parts detach, and therefore must comply with the length limits for a combination of vehicles in Vehicle Code Section 35401(a). Insertion note: 35401(a) reads: "……….a combination of vehicles coupled together, including attachments, may not exceed a total length of 65 feet". This means that for our purposes, a tractor trailer apparatus or Tractor Drawn Aerial (TDA) may not exceed 65 feet overall length.

(g) Fire trucks meeting the requirements of this regulation may operate on State and local roadways without a transportation permit. Fire trucks that exceed the weight requirements of this regulation for tandem or tridem axles may receive transportation permits from the Department to operate on State routes and from local governments to operate on local roads. The permit shall not allow any increase in single axle weights. The permit shall limit tandem and tridem weights to no more than 15 percent over the weights allowed in these regulations. The permit shall allow bridge access only on bridges with a capacity rating that is adequate for the additional axle weights. Insertion note: The single drive axle maximum of 31,000# and the single steer axle maximum of 24,000# will not be allowed any increases in exempted weights.  Special permitting for the tandem drive axle maximum of 48,000# can be received from CalTrans as indicated here for a maximum increase above standard exemptions of an additional 15% (7,200#) for a total maximum special permitting of 55,200# maximum with the bridge stipulations enforced.

(h) Nothing in this Section shall preempt the requirements of Vehicle Code Section 35002(d) and Section 35002(e).

(i) Fire trucks exempted from provisions in Division 15 of the Vehicle Code shall comply with California Vehicle Code Section 24011.

(j) Fire trucks may not travel on a bridge where the weight of the fire truck exceeds the posted maximum bridge weight.

(k) All fire trucks shall comply with the Vehicle Code Chapter 3, Brakes, commencing with Section 26301. In addition, fire trucks purchased on or after January 1, 1994, that exceed the axle weight limits of 22,500 pounds on a single axle or 34,000 pounds on a tandem axle assembly, or where the gross vehicle weight exceeds statutory weight limits shall be equipped with a brake system designed to enhance vehicle control and stability during adverse weather conditions and emergency stops. Each type of fire truck purchased on or after January 1, 1994, that exceeds the axle weight limits of 22,500 pounds on a single axle or 34,000 pounds on a tandem axle assembly, or where the gross vehicle weight exceeds statutory weight limits, prior to sales in California, shall be tested for compliance with the following Performance Tests:

(1) Performance Tests

A vehicle with a brake system that is designed to enhance vehicle control and stability shall be tested for the following "Dry Road, Straight Line Stops" and "Slippery Road, Curved Stops" under the control of the General Test Conditions:

(A) General Test Conditions

The following test conditions are applicable to both the "Dry Road, Straight Line Stops" and the "Slippery Road, Curved Stop" test:
* Level 12-foot width lane;
* Vehicle shall be centered in the lane at the initiation of braking;
* Test driver shall be allowed to steer as necessary during braking;
* Brake shall be fully applied as rapidly as possible;
* Initial brake temperature shall not exceed 250 degrees F (in lining) at the hottest brake, as measured by brake thermocouple installed in accordance with SAE J843;
* The transmission shall be in the neutral position or the clutch depressed;
* Test vehicle shall be tested both empty as delivered to the Fire District without the miscellaneous equipment installed by the Fire District, and loaded to the maximum gross vehicle weight rating. Vehicles equipped with tanks for liquid fire retardants shall be tested with tanks 2/3 filled with liquid.
* Surface Friction – Peak Friction Coefficient (PFC) as determined with an ASTM E 1134 tire on ASTM traction trailer using ASTM E 1337 procedure. Average value of 10 runs spaced evenly over the test surface.
* Brake Burnish – Burnish brakes as per FMVSS 121 burnish procedure prior to testing (i.e., 500 snubs from 40 to 20 mph at 10 fpsps on a 1.0 mile interval;
* The brakes shall be adjusted within the manufacturer’s recommended tolerances;
* The tires shall be inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure for the load of the tire.

(B) Dry Road, Straight Line Stops
The fire truck shall enter the test lane described in the General Test Conditions with the surface friction and initial speed shown below. Thereafter, the brakes shall be applied as required in the General Test Conditions:
* Surface friction level-PFC=0.9 (Most dry asphalt and concrete surfaces are at this level);
* 60 mph initial speed;
* 3 repeat runs.

(C) Slippery Road, Curved Stops
The fire truck shall enter the test lane described in the General Test Conditions at the surface friction, radius, and initial speed shown below. Thereafter, the brakes shall be applied as required in the General Test Conditions:
* Surface friction level-PFC=0.5 (wet, sealed asphalt in good condition is usually at or below this level);
* 500 ft. curve radius (lane centerline);
* Initial speed to be the lower of 30 mph (48 km/h) or 75 percent of the maximum drive through speed. Drive through speed is the highest speed that the vehicle can be driven through 200 feet (60.8 meter) of the 500 foot radius curve without leaving the lane. The vehicle is to be centered in the lane at the initiation of the drive through test;
* 3 repeat runs.
(2) Fail-safe Protection and Failure Warning
In the event of an electrical failure in the system installed to enhance the vehicle stability and control, the performance of the basic foundation brakes shall be unaffected. The vehicle shall be equipped so that when the left front, right front, left rear, or right rear brake assembly of the enhanced system fails to function as designed, the operator can tell without the need to connect external test equipment. Upon failure of the system, an amber light(s) shall illuminate on the instrument panel of the vehicle. The system installed to enhance the stability and control shall continue to operate without malfunction when electrical current to the stop light circuit fails.
(3) Test Results
The final stage manufacturers shall test each type of fire truck and show compliance with (k)(1)(B) and (k)(1)(C) when tested under the General Test Conditions of (k)(1)(A) above. Each type of fire truck shall be capable of making a full emergency stop in both the Straight Line Stop and the Curved Stop without any portion of the fire truck leaving the test lane. The test report shall be written in simple terms, and shall include Performance Test results in (k)(1)(B) and (k)(1)(C). The final stage manufacturers shall make the test report available upon written request from State, city, or county officials.

(l) Manufacturer’s Certification.
Each fire truck equipped with a system to enhance stability and control shall be certified by the final stage manufacturer that the additional brake enhancing system is installed and functional.
Note: Authority cited: Sections 35002 and 35795, Vehicle Code. Reference: Sections 35002 and 35780, Vehicle Code. 

HISTORY

1. New section filed 8-23-93; operative 9-22-93 (Register 93, No. 35). 
2. Amendment filed 6-2-2010; operative 7-2-2010 (Register 2010, No. 23).
21 CCR § 1411.7, 21 CA ADC § 1411.7
This database is current through 6/18/10 Register 2010, No. 25 
21 CA ADC § 1411.7
END OF DOCUMENT

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CALIFORNIA VEHICLE CODE

SECTION 24011.

Whenever a federal motor vehicle safety standard is established under federal law (49 U.S.C. Sec. 30101 et seq.), no dealer shall sell or offer for sale a vehicle to which the standard is applicable, and no person shall sell or offer for sale for use upon a vehicle an item of equipment to which the standard is applicable, unless: (a) The vehicle or equipment conforms to the applicable federal standard. (b) The vehicle or equipment bears thereon a certification by the manufacturer or distributor that it complies with the applicable federal standards. The certification may be in the form of a symbol prescribed in the federal standards or, if there is no federal symbol, by a symbol acceptable to the department.

BRAKES

Chapter 3 Brakes articles are linked below:

Division 12. Equipment of Vehicles
Chapter 3. Brakes
Article 1. Brake Requirements 26301-26311
Article 2. Operations of Brakes 26450-26458.5
Article 3. Airbrakes 26502-26508
Article 4. Vacuum Brakes 26520-26522