Anyone planning a trip to Florida??

[Ramtough]

I am getting ready to go to FL March 15 for the NHRA Gatornationals race. My son just noticed this information on the NHRA web site:



3/2/2007



NHRA has been informed by the Interstate Registration Service that Florida is requiring any vehicle with an overall length (truck and trailer) of more than 65 feet or a trailer length of more than 28 feet to have a Special Road Use Permit to enter and to leave Florida.



According to the Florida Department of Transportation Office of Maintenance Permit Office, the state is checking trailer length, kingpin settings, and overall length of all vehicle and trailer combinations (semi-trailer length, straight truck-trailer combination, bus combination, and non-commercial vehicle combinations).



Florida law provides for a penalty of $250 per foot over length, not to exceed $1,000, per vehicle for any vehicle that does not have an overdimensional road-use permit.



To contact the Florida Department of Transportation Office of Maintenance Permit Office, call (850) 410-5777 or Patti George, Interstate Registration Service, (800) 383-5829, ext. 1.



To obtain a PDF copy of the State of Florida Overdimensional Roaduse Permits, go to http://www.fdotmaint.com/permit/.



For a PDF copy of the State of Florida Commercial Motor Vehicle Manual, go to http://www.dot.state.fl.us/mcco/pdf/TruckingManual - 6th Edition 2006.pdf.



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NHRA is obviously concerned about their customers being robbed by FL for bringing a trailer over 28' into the state without a special permit. I wonder how many other states are doing this and if we are now going to have to get permits to travel through any state in our path?



I am going to make this trip but I will not be spending a cent on fuel or any other supply while I am in FL. I will not be going back to FL with my RV in the future.



States should not be allowed to impose special use fees on interstates that were built with as much as $1 of federal money. #@$%!



I apologize in advance for this rant and I hope I am wrong. If so, please enlighten me. Thanks.

 

[TowPro]

According to your link, I found the following



Straight truck-trailer combinations exceeding 65' overall; trailer may not exceed 28' including load.

Additional 6' rear overhang for truck-trailer combinations engaged in the transportation of boats.





This means if your truck is over 37' your trailer better be 28' or less.



My Titanium 5th wheel is 31' from the pin to the bumper. I don't really know how long my truck is, but I am guessing from the Hitch to the front bumper is 12'. That would mean my rig is around 44' long.



I am not worried about when I go to Fla in 3 weeks.

 

[Jim Smith]

This can't be true. With all the rv's in Florida

 

[wtfd6]

sounds like a bunch of crap to me! they will get you every way they can.

 

[TowPro]

I can see where someone read the law and come up with the idea that trailer over 28' are not allowed.



Straight truck-trailer combinations exceeding 65' overall; trailer may not exceed 28' including load. If you replace the ";" with a ". " then it would mean no trailers over 28' I just had our "document writer" look at the wording. She said the ; means the first part is a statement, but its not done yet, the 2nd part is also a statement related to the first part.

 

[Rwhedges]

If you check page 15 of the dot link mentioned, I believe you will see that what is being referred to is for commercial motor vehicles meaning a straight truck with a trailer. At the bottom of the list it covers non-commercial motor vehicles and says nothing about the length of the trailer just not to exceed 65 feet.

 

[Ramtough]

NHRA has issued the following correction:



NHRA has received updated information from the Florida Department of Transportation regarding requirements of vehicles entering Florida. For straight trucks towing a trailer, the limitations are no more than one trailer that may not exceed a length of 28 feet, but this limitation does not apply if the overall length of the truck-trailer combination is 65 feet or less.



I confirmed the same information by speaking with David Fairchild of FL DOT today. In addition, FDOT sent an on-line application back stating that, "Your setup does not require and overdimension permit from Florida. "

 

[RJWEST]

I think an applogy is in order to all the fine citizens of Florida who tolerate
outstate histera . Come on down and relax..... enjoy... ... . drive fast.....
And buy diesel in GA it's cheaper,,,,

 

[AWay]

I agree. Florida is darn nice to us foreigners. . Been wintering down here for 3 years now with a truck / 5th wheel total length of 53 ft and the fine officers have never gave me a second look.

 

[captainmike]

Just confirmed this with the Florida Permit Office, Mr. Luke Craft. 850 410-5777

If your overall length (truck & trailer) is not over 65 ft. then no additional permit is required. You must also be less than 8 ft 6 in wide and less than 13 ft 6 in high. That should cover most of us. The law is aimed at commercial operations and triple tows (truck, trailer, boat) and large motor homes with large trailers. Again only if overall length is over 65 feet.



Have fun in Florida, Cheers, Mike in Florida