Florida

The laws governing truck size and weight in the State of Florida are found in Fla. Stat. Ann. §316-500 through §316-565 (available on the State's Web site at http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0316/0316ContentsIndex.html). Additional provisions related to overweight permits and "Turnpike Tandems" are in State regulations at Fla. Admin. Code §§14-26.0041 et seq. and Fla. Admin Code §§14-61.0012 et seq., respectively.

Summary of State Provisions that Exceed Federal Limits

With respect to trucks operating on the NHS in Florida, several provisions in State law allow trucks to exceed some elements of Federal limits:

1. State law allows up to 40,000 lbs. on a tandem axle.

2. State law includes a 10 percent weight allowance for axle weight limits.

Regular Operations25

The gross weight of vehicles in regular operations (operating without a special permit) is governed by the FBF on Interstate highways, by the State bridge formula26 on non-Interstate highways, as well as by provisions related to axle spacing and limits on single axle loads. See Exhibit 17 for a summary of Florida weight provisions under regular operations (Fla. Stat. Ann. §316-535).

Exhibit 17: Summary of Florida Truck Weight Limits for Vehicles in Regular OperationsSingle Axle20,000 lbs. (22,000 lbs. with 10 percent tolerance)Tandem Axle40,000 lbs. (44,000 lbs. with 10 percent tolerance)Tridem AxlePer FBFGross Weight80,000 lbs.Other10 percent scale tolerance*

* The Florida Department of Transportation is required to publish weight tables and charts that incorporate the 10 percent tolerance into its figures (Fla. Stat. Ann. §316-535[7] and §316-545[2][a]). As a result, State tables such as those published on the State's Web site at http://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2015/Chapter316 indicate a single axle weight limit of 22,000 lbs. and a tandem weight limit of 44,000 lbs. The gross weight of any vehicle or combination of vehicles may not exceed 80,000 lbs., including enforcement tolerances, either on Interstate or non-Interstate highways (Fla. Stat. Ann. §316-535[4 – 5]).

Exemptions and Special Operations

Commodity Exemptions

Perishable Food Crops: The Governor may declare an emergency when there is a breakdown in the normal public transportation facilities necessary in moving perishable food crops grown in Florida. During such emergency, the Department of Transportation is authorized to set new weight limits and designate routes, excluding Interstate highways, to facilitate the trucking of perishable food crops (Fla. Stat. Ann. §316.565).

Emission Reduction/Special Fuel Exemptions

Emission Reduction Equipment: State law has adopted a weight exemption for idle reduction technology similar to the exemption in 23 U.S.C. §127(a)(12). The exemption, which applies to gross vehicle weight or bridge formula weight, is up to 400 lbs. or the certifiable weight of the unit, whichever is less (Fla. Stat. Ann. §316.545[3][c]).

Other Exemptions

Vehicles Constructed for Special Types of Work: The following vehicles are not required to meet State axle spacing requirements:

• Dump trucks

• Concrete mixing trucks

• Trucks engaged in waste collection and disposal

• Fuel oil and gasoline trucks designed and constructed for a special type of work or use, when operated as a SU

Any such vehicles are limited to a single axle limit of 20,000 lbs. and 550 lbs. per inch tire width plus scale tolerances, up to a total gross vehicle weight of 70,000 lbs. (Fla. Stat. Ann. §316.535[6]). These vehicles are not allowed the exemption for emission reduction equipment (Fla. Stat. Ann. §316.545[3][c]).

Tow Trucks: While moving a disabled vehicle, tow trucks or wreckers will not be penalized for exceeding State weight limits (Fla. Stat. Ann. §316.530[3]). The Department of Transportation may issue a special blanket permit to authorize a wrecker to tow a disabled vehicle where the combination exceeds State weight limits and must supply a map showing the routes on which the wrecker may safely tow disabled vehicles for all special permit classifications for which the wrecker applies (Fla. Stat. Ann. §316.550[5]).

Permits for Overweight Vehicles

The State Department of Transportation, with respect to highways under its jurisdiction, is authorized to issue permits for the operation of a vehicle or combination of vehicles that exceeds State size and weight limits. The Department is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations concerning the issuance of permits (Fla. Stat. Ann. §316.550[2 and 6]). State regulations require the Department to consider various criteria when evaluating permit requests and prescribing the conditions for their use, including whether the load can be reasonably dismantled or disassembled (Fla. Admin. Code §14-26.00425[1][a]).

Self-propelled Truck Cranes: A permit may authorize a self-propelled truck crane operating off the Interstate Highway System to tow a motor vehicle that does not weigh more than 5,000 lbs. if the combined weight of the crane and the towed vehicle does not exceed 95,000 lbs. (Fla. Stat. Ann. §316.550[3]).

Sealed Container Cargo Units: A permit may authorize a gross vehicle weight of 100,000 lbs. (Fla. Admin. Code §14-26.01311).27

"Turnpike Tandems": State regulations define a "Turnpike Tandem" as a combination of truck tractor, semitrailer, and trailer that operates as a SU and in which either the semitrailer or the trailer unit is longer than 28 feet but neither the semitrailer nor the trailer unit is longer than 48 feet (Fla. Admin. Code §14-61.0012). The Department of Transportation's Road User Permits Office is authorized to issue permits for oversize or overweight Turnpike Tandems to be operated on the Florida Turnpike System only (Fla. Admin. Code §14-61.0016[2][a]). For a Turnpike Tandem, the gross weight of the truck tractor and the first semitrailer cannot exceed 80,000 lbs.; the maximum gross weight of the unit of dolly and second trailer cannot be more than 67,000 lbs. or the limit calculated under the State bridge formula, whichever is less; and the gross weight cannot exceed 147,000 lbs. (Fla. Admin. Code §14-61.0017[3]).

Blanket (multitrip) permits are issued for various vehicles and configurations, on particular routes, for GVW of up to 199,000 lbs. (Fla. Admin. Code §§14-26.008).

Routes

Weight exemptions above Federal limits for certain routes are not specifically mentioned in Florida State statute.