Starting in July, Florida will allow 88,000-pound commercial vehicles on designated routes, a weight allowance for truck anti-idling devices and bar shippers from forcing carriers to sign indemnification agreements.
Gov. Charlie Crist signed HB 1271 on June 1, which the Legislature passed with a nearly unanimous vote. It will allow the state to issue special permits for commercial motor vehicles up to 88,000 pounds on specific non-Interstate routes. Currently, the maximum weight is 80,000 pounds.
The CMV weight allowance increase was controversial. The Owner-Operator Independent Driver Association and road safety groups were against it, while the American Trucking Associations supported it.
It will also provide a 400-pound weight allowance for trucks with anti-idling devices.
Finally, the law bars shippers from demanding carriers sign indemnification agreements as part of their contract.
