California Trucking Association
4148 East Commerce Way
Sacramento, CA 95834
www.caltrux.org
October 29, 2025
City of San Bernardino
Community Development & Housing Department
George Velarde, Associate Planner
201 North E Street
San Bernardino, CA 92401
RE: City of San Bernardino Circulation Element
Dear Mr. Velarde,
The California Trucking Association (CTA) is the nation’s largest statewide trucking association and has been proudly representing the trucking industry in California since 1934. The City of San Bernardino (City) has been, and continues to be, a critical logistics hub for the state—underscoring the importance of appropriate and viable truck routes.
The Counties of San Bernardino and Riverside are major logistics hubs supporting commerce transported to and from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach as well as through the state and the rest of North America. Collectively the San Bernardino and Riverside metropolitan areas boast over 383,000 employees in the logistics, transportation and material moving sectors.
CTA appreciates the opportunity to provide input on the City of San Bernardino’s proposed truck routes map. Many of our member companies operate their vehicles within the City delivering and picking up goods. CTA recommends the City takes into consideration two key principles while considering the adoption of the proposed truck routes:
1) Collaboration with neighboring jurisdictions to ensure truck routes consistently align 2) Accommodation of 53-foot semitrailers for commercial motor vehicles accessing retail, commercial and industrial locations for pickup and delivery
To support the continued success of the trucking industry in the City of San Bernardino, it is critical that the City’s truck route map aligns with those of neighboring jurisdictions. For example, several proposed routes in the draft map cross into adjacent areas, including the City of Colton to the south and the community of Muscoy to the west. It is essential that the City of San Bernardino collaborate with their neighboring jurisdictions to designate their respective portions of these shared routes consistently to ensure route continuity for commercial drivers. If the City of San Bernardino does not coordinate their designated truck routes with surrounding cities, serious logistical issues may arise.
Furthermore, it is imperative that designated “City Truck Routes” include accommodations for 53-foot semitrailers servicing retail, commercial, and industrial centers within the City. California Vehicle Code 35703 prohibits a city or county from adopting an ordinance that
“… shall prohibit any commercial vehicles coming from an unrestricted street having ingress and egress by direct route to and from a restricted street when necessary for the purpose of making pickups or deliveries of goods, wares, and merchandise from or to a ny building or structure located on the restricted street or for the purpose of delivering materials to be used in the actual and bona fide repair, alteration, remodeling, or construction of any building or structure upon the restricted street for which a building permit has previously been obtained.”
Without proper access for 53-foot semitrailers, goods movement will be restricted, limiting the efficiency of logistics operations and the City would be in violation of state law. In example, the City has mixed retail, commercial and industrial property along Interstate 215 extending from University Parkway to Palm Avenue. It is reasonable to assume the proposed “City Truck Routes” should consider accommodating 53-foot semitrailers that will undoubtedly travel along the local routes for making pick up and deliveries.
CTA appreciates the City of San Bernardino’s commitment to engaging with stakeholders during the development of its truck route network. Collaboration with the industry is vital to ensure that truck routes avoid sensitive receptors while preserving economic viability. This balance is key to positioning the City for responsible and sustainable growth. We look forward to continuing to engage with City officials throughout the process of finalizing this truck route plan.
Sincerely,
Nick Chiappe
Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs
California Trucking Association
[email protected]