Rum's Rants

Rums Rants#3

STAA Routeing is ignored by Roehl

Friday afternoon. 1300 hrs (local time) Just emptied out in Fresno,Ca.

Preplan: Fresno,Ca pre loaded trl to King City,Ca appointment time 1630 hrs empty=1 mile, loaded=112.

Looks like a pretty simple run and is quickly confirmed because of the appointment time. Have to get going and need the rest of the information in order to get moving. Have some time to spare but not much.

Send in Preplan confirmed

Receive load assignment / Fuel and routeing

No fuel required. US 41s 31, CA 198w 87, US 101n 7

Uh ohhh small problem here. Ca 198 is not a highlighted route on your motor carrier road atlas. This road is not part of the staa network which allows travel with our 53' trailers. Take a look at the California restricted routes. Ca 198 is not on the list of restricted routes and no low bridges.

So is Ca 198 a legal road to travel on? Correct answer = I don't know.

So when in doubt get out your DRG. Look up routing (page 8-7). You have a conflict between your atlas and routing (Ca 198 is not a highlighted staa route).

Driver: I need to know if it is legal to run on Ca 198, It is not highlighted on my map

DSR: Is it a restricted route?

Driver: No, it is not restricted just not highlighted on the staa network. It may or may not be legal. I have no way of knowing.

DSR: Well it looks like a principal road to me.

Driver: I agree, but that doesn't tell me if it's legal for me to run or not.

DSR: How would I know if it's legal or not. Did you call the California DOT?

Ok lets stop here for a second. I need to deliver this load, do I really have the time to call the California DOT? But lets say I do call them.

Driver: Is Ca 198 ok for me to drive across from coalinga to san lucas with a 53' trailer?

Ca DOT: Sure

Ok called the Ca DOT, get rolling down the road, turn onto Ca 198, get 5 miles west of coalinga and get pulled over by a state trooper. Get an over length ticket from the trooper.

Driver: I called the DOT and they said it was ok.

Trooper: Prove it

Driver: Look at my cell phone records.

Trooper: Ok you called the DOT but that does not show proof that they said is was a legal road. It only shows you called them.

Time to call Roehl

Driver: I got an overlength ticket on Ca 198

DSR: Didn't you call the DOT to check and see if that was a legal road?

Driver: Yes I did, but the trooper said I have no proof. Is Roehl going to pay for this ticket?

DSR: (Clears his throat and quotes ) DRG page 8-7 "It is your responsibilty to make sure your route is safe and legal to drive". Anything else I can help you with?

Now as a driver I can see that Ca 198 is not highlighted so rather then go thru this whole lengthy time consumeing process that will make me late for my appointment. I will simply follow US41 s to Paso Robles then take US 101 n into King City. This only adds 50 miles to the run and I know I am legal.

But with todays riseing fuel prices, is this the right thing to do? Isn't there a better way? Doesn't Roehl want me to drive over legal roads?

So that is the problem, what is the solution?

The permit dept should have a listing of roads that are available to use with a 53' trailer that are not listed on the road atlas. They should have this listing backed up with a fax from the governing state. This list should be available to the DSR's who can quickly answer yes or no on the legal status of the roadway.

The question is simple and the answer should be simple too. Yes or No

 

LOL I am just a truck driver. Funny you bring that up cause I have looked it over several times and to be honest I am still confussed.