Florida’s big-truck bill will sock taxpayers

The big-truck legislation that Florida Gov. Charlie Crist signed into law June 4 will cost local and state taxpayers up to $150 million year in increased maintenance costs as well as pose new safety threats on already overcrowded roads, says Tom Guilmet, executive director of the Florida Safety Council and member of the Florida Coalition for Safe Highways.

The omnibus transportation legislation approved last week included an 8,000-pound increase in allowable weights for big rigs operating on state roads.

“This weight increase not only damages Florida’s transportation infrastructure, but also threatens people’s lives,” said Guilmet as he called on the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to withhold issuing permits for heavier trucks.

“The added weight certainly impacts a truck’s ability to safely maneuver on our roads,” said Guilmet, “yet this legislation does nothing to require trucking operators to increase safety precautions. The amount of damage to our roads will also radically increase while failing to offer any solution to appropriately fund the resulting road repair and maintenance.”