Tractor trailer clocked at 28 MPH over California’s commercial vehicle speed limit
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reminded the trucking community to abide by California’s commercial vehicle speed restrictions after catching a truck driver traveling at well over the legal limit.
On July 2, 2026, CHP troopers caught a truck exceeding the 55 MPH speed limit in the Temecula area.
“Our officers just clocked this tractor-trailer combination at 83 MPH with Lidar — that’s 28 MPH over the legal limit for this vehicle!” said state police.
CHP used the incident to remind truckers about the state’s “strict” speed limit for certain types of vehicles.
From CHP:
Under California Vehicle Code § 22406, vehicles like this one are restricted to a maximum 55 MPH on every California highway — no matter what the posted speed limit says for cars. This covers:
- Motortrucks or truck tractors with 3 or more axles
- Any motortruck or truck tractor drawing another vehicle (like this semi!)
- Passenger vehicles or buses towing anything
- School buses with pupils, farm labor vehicles with passengers, explosives haulers, and trailer buses
“Professional drivers — we appreciate the hard work you do every day. Let’s keep it at or under 55 MPH when the law requires it. It’s not just a ticket; it’s lives on the line,” CHP said.
According to CHP, 392 people were killed in crashes involving large trucks in 2023. Troopers said that the 55 MPH speed limit is in place to improve safety for all drivers.
“A fully loaded semi can need nearly twice (or more) the distance to stop compared to a passenger car. At 83 MPH instead of 55, that margin vanishes — fast,” CHP said.