In the state of Florida and the rest of the country, commercial vehicle operators have the duty of driving their trucks in a regulated and appropriate manner.

To uphold these codes, set laws, rules, regulations, drilling, and training requirements have been made determined by the driven vehicle, the freight, and various other factors.

Trucking companies are responsible for training every truck driver they employ in the vehicles’ driving and proper road regulations. Thus, it is important to understand state laws and vital commercial vehicle requirements, like getting a Florida DOT number from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

Here is a short guide on the instructions that every trucking company needs to follow and laws that most truckers are unfamiliar with or uninformed of.

Trucking Rules And Regulations In Florida

What Is Considered A Commercial Motor Vehicle Under State Law?

According to the Florida statute, a commercial motor vehicle is a vehicle that is not owned by the government and has a gross vehicle weight of 26,001 or more. It is also considered a commercial vehicle if it contains three or more axles.

These vehicles are responsible for delivering and transferring products across companies in every state of the country and are staples of America’s economy.

Many people have the misunderstanding that any vehicle that bears an advertisement on it is also called a commercial vehicle. But in reality, being a commercial vehicle has nothing to do with what is written on the car.

What Are The Trucking Rules And Regulations?

Commercial motor vehicles are put through various rules and regulations, which are much further than most motor vehicles. To battle large-scale truck accidents and implement safety, commercial trucks are subjected to a variety of strict requirements.

Commercial truck regulations in Florida are enforced by the Office of Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (CVE). Trucking operations in Florida and throughout the country are governed by the FMCSA as well as federal or state laws.

It is better to get expert legal advice as some regulations hold exceptions for certain vehicles types. If necessary, you could acquire particular permits for your vehicle to excuse them from those regulations.

What Is The Truck Size And Weight Limit?

Florida regulates the length, width, weight, and height of commercial vehicles. In general, it is:

• Length: For most trucks, the limit is 75 feet in total, but for a truck tractor or a truck tractor-trailer combination, the length is up to 65 feet.
• Width: Truck width cannot be higher than 102 inches. However, trucks with a width greater than 96 inches might be prohibited from entering public roads or certain roads that aren’t built large enough for them. Truck width is measured while excluding side mirrors or safety equipment.
• Weight: Gross vehicle weight of a commercial vehicle can be up to 80,000 pounds. If the weight depends on the number of axles, then 20,000 Ibs on a standard axle and 34,000 Ibs on a tandem axle.
• Height: Florida commercial trucks cannot exceed 13.5 feet, and at the same time, automobile conveyors are allowed to be at least 14 feet high.

What Are The Intrastate Trucking Laws In Florida?

Intrastate trucks are the ones that only operate within the Florida state limits. Numerous truck services fall into this range, including garbage disposal trucks, fire trucks, dump trucks, heavy construction vehicles, and trucks carrying large quantities of liquid or gas.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) clarifies that vehicles traveling through the state must have the required permits before entering. This is because Florida is not a port of entry state.

Florida has declared various instructions and commercial vehicle regulations, such as:

• Trucking companies like MigWay are required to display a valid US DOT number or a Florida state registration number specifically for the state. Trucks also must be registered with the FDOT
• Florida has authorized some FMCSA regulations present in the Code of Federal Regulations that state limits on the use of electronics in the vehicle, licensing laws, fuel safety, and restricted practices.
• Safety inspections are conducted by the police force or authorized personnel at a truck weighing location or checking stops. Procedures set by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) are used to examine truck drivers and their vehicles.