CALTRANS
LEGAL TRUCK SIZE & WEIGHT
EXEMPTIONS
Motorsports Routes
(Note: All abbreviations are defined at the end of page.)
MOTORSPORTS EXEMPTION
An otherwise legal truck tractor-semitrailer combination vehicle traveling to or from a qualifying motorsports venue may have a KPRA length of up to 46 feet if operating on the designated STAA Network and Caltrans-approved motorsports access routes. (Complete text of Vehicle Code exception shown below)LEGAL DIMENSIONS
Height & Width: Vehicle basic height law in California is 14 feet. The basic width law is 102 inches.
Length: Vehicles qualifying for the motorsports KPRA exemption must comply with all other length requirements. Basic length laws in California are as follows:
California Legal |
STAA Truck with 48' Trailer |
STAA Truck with 53' Trailer |
Semi-trailer = no limit |
Semi-trailer = 48' max KPRA = no limit Combination length = no limit |
Semi-trailer = over 48', but 53' max KPRA = 40' max Combination length = no limit |
Access: virtually anywhere in California. |
Access: STAA Network only! | Access: STAA Network only! |
The STAA Network is the green routes on the on-line Truck Network Map. (Click on the Caltrans district numbers to open each district map.)
POWER UNITS
Truck Tractor: To qualify for the motorsports exemption, the power unit must meet the definition of a "truck tractor" per the California Vehicle Code (CVC) (with bolding added):
655. (a) "A 'truck tractor' is a motor vehicle designed and used primarily for drawing other vehicles and not so constructed as to carry a load, other than a part of the weight of the vehicle and the load so drawn. As used in this section, "load" does not include items carried on the truck tractor in conjunction with the operation of the vehicle if the load carrying space for these items does not exceed 34 square feet."
Dromedaries: As stated in the definition above, "droms" may carry only items required for the operation of the vehicle. If the "droms" carry other items, the vehicle converts to a California Legal combination with a maximum allowed overall length of 65 feet.
Buses & Motorhomes: A bus or motorhome is not considered a truck tractor. If it is used as a power unit, it would not qualify for the motorsports exemption. However, a bus or motorhome can certainly travel to motorsports events if it is a legal vehicle on the required routes. The legal length of a single-unit vehicle in California is 40'. A bus or motorhome may exceed 40' up to a maximum of 45', provided that they stay on designated routes. The routes for the over-40' buses and motorhomes are not related to motorsports routes. When a bus or motorhome tows another vehicle, the combination cannot exceed 65' in length. (Return to the Office of Truck Services web page and scroll to the topic "6 - 45' Buses & Motorhomes" for a map of designated routes, and links to two web pages entitled "45' Buses" and "45' Motorhomes.")OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS Commercial vehicles are subject to all motor carrier regulations. Many of these requirements are listed and summarized on the Office of Truck Services web page under the heading "Commercial Vehicle Operations Guide."
MOTORSPORTS EVENTS
Motorsports definition: In the context of this law, a motorsports event is any event sanctioned under the auspices of the member organizations of the Automobile Competition Committee for the United States. Those events are listed in the table below.
Exemption of event activities: This exemption also applies to all activities leading up to that event, including, but not limited to, administration, testing, practice, promotion, and merchandising.
Events outside California: Vehicles registered in California and participating in a motorsports event outside of the state may use the STAA Network (National Network, Terminal Access routes, and Service routes) within California.APPROVED ROUTES
The law mentions issuing of permits. However, in lieu of issuing permits, the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) worked with local authorities to develop the following list of approved routes for each motorsports venue. Note that some routes allow only California Legal vehicles, and one allows only STAA vehicles. (See abbreviations at end of page.)
| Racetrack | City | Local Requirements | Required Route to Track and State Restrictions |
| Altamont Raceway Park | Tracy | None | East of Livermore on I-580 to Grant Line/Bryon exit, east on Altamont Pass Road, south on Midway. |
| Bakersfield Raceway | North of Bakersfield | None | No access from SB 99 to track. NB 99 to Famoso-Woody Rd, then east. To go south from track, take Famoso-Woody Road to SB 65 to SB 99. To NB 99, take Famoso-Woody Rd. |
| Bakersfield Speedway | Bakersfield | None | SR 99 north to 65, north 1 mi to 7th Standard Rd, east to Chester Ave, then north. |
| Brotherhood Raceway Park | Los Angeles | None | I-710 south to Terminal Island at Port of Los Angeles. |
| Cajon Speedway | El Cajon | Do NOT turn south onto Magnolia from Prospect. | Take I-8 to N/B SR 67. Exit at W/B Prospect, west to Cuyamaca, south to Bradley, east to Wing. Returning to 67, take Bradley east to SR 67. |
| Cal-Expo | Sacramento | None | Take Capital City Freeway (Business 80) to Expo Blvd, then east. Leaving track, access NB 99 via Expo Blvd to 160 to 99. |
| California Speedway | Fontana | None | I-15 to 4th St., then E. to participant's entrance E. of Etiwanda. |
| Calistoga Speedway | Calistoga at Fairgrounds | 40' KPRA, 65' overall. 30' KPRA advisory N of SR 128. | CA legal vehicles only (40' KPRA/65' overall). SR 29 has 30' KPRA advisory north of SR 128. From WB I-80 take SR 12 west to 29. From EB 80 exit at SR 29. |
| Carlsbad Raceway | Carlsbad | None | I-5 to Palomar Airport Road (San Marcos Blvd), then east six miles, then north on Business Park Drive, then west. |
| Grand Prix of Long Beach | Long Beach | None | I-710 to south end of Long Beach Freeway. |
| Holtville Aerodrome Int'l Raceway | Holtville | STAA VEHICLES ONLY | STAA vehicles only (48' trailer/no KPRA limit or up to 53' trailer/40' KPRA limit). I-8 to 115, north to Norrish Rd. |
| Kings Speedway | Hanford | None | SR 198 to 10th Ave. exit. |
| LA County Raceway | Palmdale | None | SR 14 to SR 138 to Ave. T, then NE one mile. |
| Laguna Seca Raceway | Monterey | None | US 101 to Laurel Drive exit. West to Davis Road, east on Blanco Road to SR 68, south on SR 68 to track. Do not take Sanborn or Abbot exits. |
| Madera Speedway | Madera | None | SR 99 to Cleveland Ave the west to fairgrounds. |
| Mesa Marin Raceway | 10 mi East of Bakersfield | None | From SB 99 take SR 204 east to SR 178. From SR 58 take SR 184 north, or take 99 to 204 to 178. |
| Norton Drags | San Bernardino | None | I-10 to Waterman, then north to Mill St. and east to track. |
| Orange Show Speedway | San Berdardino | None | I-215 to Orange Show Rd, then east .25 mi to E street, then north to track. |
| Perris Auto Speedway | near Perris | None | I-215 to Ramona Expressway to Lake Perris Fairgrounds. |
| Pomona Raceway | Pomona | Notify Pomona Dept of Public Works 909-620-2281. | I-10 to Ganesha (Fairplex Dr), north to LA County Fairgrounds. |
| Redding Raceway | Redding | DO NOT take Rancho Rd. | I-5 to SR 44 to SB Airport Road, then immediate left onto Old Oregon Trail to track. |
| Sacramento Raceway Park | Sacramento | None | US 50 east to SR 16, then north on Excelsior Rd. |
| San Jose Speedway | San Jose | None | US 101 to Tully Road exit, west to Monterey, south to Umbarger. |
| Santa Maria Speedway | Santa Maria | 40' KPRA, 65' overall. |
CA legal vehicles only (40' KPRA, 65' overall). US 101 to SR 166 exit, west to frontage road, then north. |
| Sears Point Raceway | Sonoma | None | I-80 to SR 37 to SR 121. |
| Silver Dollar Speedway | Chico | None | SR 99 to Skyway (Park Ave), then west to fairgrounds. |
| Thunderhill Park | Willows | 40' KPRA, 65' overall. | CA legal vehicles only (40' KPRA, 65' overall). I-5 to SR 162. |
| Willow Springs Motorsports Park | Rosamond | Note special routing FROM track to NB 14. | SR 14 to Rosamond Blvd. Return same way with one exception. From track to N/B 14 take Rosamond east to Pacific Hwy, north to Backus to SR 14. |
CALIFORNIA LAW
Federal Legislation: Federal legislation, H.R. 2539, effective January 1, 1996, provided states may not impose a limitation of less than 46 feet from kingpin to rear axle on trailers or semitrailers used exclusively or primarily in connection with motorsports competition events.
State Legislation: California Senate Bill 1463 codified the federal motorsports KPRA exemption in California law. The governor signed the bill August 17, 1996 and it became law January 1, 1997.
California Vehicle Code: The motorsports exemption is located in the California Vehicle Code (CVC), Section 35401.5 and is copied here in part (bolding added):
35401.5 (g) (1) "...the Department of Transportation or local authorities ... may ... issue a special permit ... to operate a combination of vehicles consisting of a truck tractor semitrailer combination operated pursuant to subdivision (a) with a kingpin to rearmost axle measurement limit of not more than 46 feet on trailers used exclusively or primarily in connection with motorsports. As used in this paragraph, "motorsports" means any event, and all activities leading up to that event, including, but not limited to, administration, testing, practice, promotion, and merchandising, that is sanctioned under the auspices of the member organizations of the Automobile Competition Committee for the United States."
Subdivision (a): A combination of vehicles consisting of a truck tractor and semitrailer ... is not subject to the limitations of Sections 35400 and 35401, when operating on the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways ... or when using routes appropriately identified by the Department of Transportation or local authorities ... if all of the following conditions are met: (1) The length of the semitrailer ... does not exceed 48 feet. A semitrailer not more than 53 feet in length shall satisfy this requirement when configured with two or more rear axles, the rearmost of which is located 40 feet or less from the kingpin or when configured with a single axle which is located 38 feet or less from the kingpin. ...DEFINITIONS:
KPRA = kingpin-to-rear-axle
CA = California
CVC = California Vehicle Code
SR = State Route
STAA = Surface Transportation Assistance Act, federal legislation allowing larger trucks on the National Network. See the Caltrans fact sheet Truck Route Classifications for more details.
STAA Network = National Network, Terminal Access routes, and Service routes. For a map showing the STAA Network, see the Truck Network Map.
NB = northboundSB = southbound
EB = eastbound
WB = westbound
CONTACTS
Caltrans Legal Truck Size & Weight Work Group
Casey Robb
Manuel Fonseca
General number (916) 654-5741
E-mail: Truck Size & Weight Unit.
Return to the Caltrans "Office of Truck Services " page.
Revised 12/11/07.