Section 34624 Of Chapter 2. Motor Carrier Permits From California Vehicle Code >> Division 14.85. >> Chapter 2.
34624
. (a) The department shall establish a classification of motor
carrier of property known as owner-operators.
(b) As used in this section and in Sections 1808.1 and 34501.12,
an owner-operator is a person who meets all of the following
requirements:
(1) Holds a class A or class B driver's license or a class C
license with a hazardous materials endorsement.
(2) Owns, leases, or otherwise operates not more than one power
unit and not more than three towed vehicles.
(3) Is required to obtain a permit as a motor carrier of property
by the department under this division.
(c) (1) As used in this section, "power unit" is a motor vehicle
described in subdivision (a), (b), (g), (f), or (k) of Section 34500,
or a motortruck of two or more axles that is more than 10,000 pounds
gross vehicle weight rating, but does not include those vehicles
operated by household goods carriers, as defined in Section 5109 of
the Public Utilities Code or persons providing transportation of
passengers. A "towed vehicle" is a nonmotorized vehicle described in
subdivision (d), (e), (f), (g), or (k) of that section.
(2) As used in this section, subdivision (f) of Section 34500
includes only those combinations where the gross vehicle weight
rating of the towing vehicle exceeds 11,500 pounds, and subdivision
(g) of Section 34500 includes only those vehicles transporting
hazardous materials for which the display of placards is required
pursuant to Section 27903, a license is required pursuant to Section
32000.5, or for which a hazardous waste transporter registration is
required pursuant to Section 25163 of the Health and Safety Code.
(d) The department, upon suspending or revoking the driving
privilege of an owner-operator shall also suspend the owner-operator'
s motor carrier permit, unless the owner-operator, within 15 days,
shows good cause why the permit should not be suspended.
(e) Every motor carrier who is within the classification
established by this section is responsible for notifying all other
motor carriers with whom he or she is under contract when the status
of the motor carrier changes so that he or she is no longer within
the classification established by this section.
(f) This section shall not be construed to change the definition
of "employer," "employee," or "independent contractor" for any other
purpose.