As the state of Florida anticipates Hurricane Irma making landfall, the state Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued an emergency road use permit.
The emergency road use permit is authorized by the DOT by the state’s Executive Order number 17-235, which states that timely precautions can be taken such as the issuing of an emergency road use permit.
The road use permit letter states that the Florida DOT has the authority to permit the movement of divisible loads on any behicles transporting emergency equipment, services, supplies and agricultural commodities and citrus as recommended by the Commissioner of Agriculture. Although, the weight, height, length and width for any such vehicles shall not exceed the following:
- The maximum gross vehicle weight for vehicles equipped with five weight-bearing axles with outer bridge spans of no less than (40) feet, but less than (51) fifty-one shall not exceed 90,000 pounds.
- The maximum gross vehicle weight for vehicles equipped with five weight-bearing axles with outer bridge spans of not less than fifty-one feet shall not exceed 95,000 pounds.
- The maximum gross vehicle weight for vehicles equipped with four weight-bearing axles with outer bridge spans of not less than forty-three feet shall not exceed 80,000 pounds.
- All straight trucks shall not exceed eight thousand pounds. The maximum weight of any single axle shall not exceed 27,500 pounds.
Other length, width and height requirements apply. Maximum dimensions shall not exceed 14-feet wide, 14-6 high or 95-feet long.