A new rule proposed by Florida’s Department of Transportation to increase truck weights on certain routes throughout the state is running into some opposition, according to the St. Petersburg Times.
Law enforcement officials and the AAA Auto Club South asked Gov. Jeb Bush to put a stop to the proposal, which would increase the allowable truck weights from 80,000 pounds to 95,000 pounds on several routes, including state roads in Tampa, Jacksonville, southeast Florida and Pensacola.
Because the federal government has strict weight limits on interstates, most of the heavier trucks would be diverted to state roads. Truckers with heavy loads could also apply for separate permits to use county roads.
The DOT estimates that the heavier loads will up state road repair costs by about $4 million a year. Truckers pay a $500 annual fee for the special permits, but AAA Auto Club South says taxpayers would still end up footing the bill for most of the repair tab.
The proposal is "a sweet deal for the trucking industry and a bad deal for everyone else," said Kevin Bakewell, vice president of AAA Auto Club South.
According to the article, the trucking industry argues that the new rule will allow Florida truckers to compete better in a global market.
The state will hold a public workshop on the issue in Tallahassee on Dec. 4.
Law enforcement officials and the AAA Auto Club South asked Gov. Jeb Bush to put a stop to the proposal, which would increase the allowable truck weights from 80,000 pounds to 95,000 pounds on several routes, including state roads in Tampa, Jacksonville, southeast Florida and Pensacola.
Because the federal government has strict weight limits on interstates, most of the heavier trucks would be diverted to state roads. Truckers with heavy loads could also apply for separate permits to use county roads.
The DOT estimates that the heavier loads will up state road repair costs by about $4 million a year. Truckers pay a $500 annual fee for the special permits, but AAA Auto Club South says taxpayers would still end up footing the bill for most of the repair tab.
The proposal is "a sweet deal for the trucking industry and a bad deal for everyone else," said Kevin Bakewell, vice president of AAA Auto Club South.
According to the article, the trucking industry argues that the new rule will allow Florida truckers to compete better in a global market.
The state will hold a public workshop on the issue in Tallahassee on Dec. 4.
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