Florida Senate - 2019 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for SB 1638
Ì828292:Î828292
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
Comm: RCS .
04/24/2019 .
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The Committee on Rules (Lee) recommended the following:
1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
2
3 Between lines 123 and 124
4 insert:
5 Section 2. Subsections (3) and (4) of section 316.515,
6 Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection (16) is added to
7 that section, to read:
8 316.515 Maximum width, height, length.—
9 (3) LENGTH LIMITATION.—Except as otherwise provided in this
10 section, length limitations apply solely to a semitrailer or
11 trailer, and not to a truck tractor or to the overall length of
12 a combination of vehicles. No combination of commercial motor
13 vehicles coupled together and operating on the public roads may
14 consist of more than one truck tractor and two trailing units.
15 Unless otherwise specifically provided for in this section, a
16 combination of vehicles not qualifying as commercial motor
17 vehicles may consist of no more than two units coupled together;
18 such nonqualifying combination of vehicles may not exceed a
19 total length of 65 feet, inclusive of the load carried thereon,
20 but exclusive of safety and energy conservation devices approved
21 by the department for use on vehicles using public roads.
22 Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a truck
23 tractor-semitrailer combination engaged in the transportation of
24 automobiles or boats may transport motor vehicles or boats on
25 part of the power unit; and, except as may otherwise be mandated
26 under federal law, an automobile or boat transporter semitrailer
27 may not exceed 50 feet in length, exclusive of the load;
28 however, the load may extend up to an additional 6 feet beyond
29 the rear of the trailer. The 50-feet length limitation does not
30 apply to non-stinger-steered automobile or boat transporters
31 that are 65 feet or less in overall length, exclusive of the
32 load carried thereon, or to stinger-steered automobile or boat
33 transporters that are 75 feet or less in overall length,
34 exclusive of the load carried thereon, or to stinger-steered
35 automobile transporters that are 80 feet or less in overall
36 length, exclusive of the load carried thereon. For purposes of
37 this subsection, a “stinger-steered automobile or boat
38 transporter” is an automobile or boat transporter configured as
39 a semitrailer combination wherein the fifth wheel is located on
40 a drop frame located behind and below the rearmost axle of the
41 power unit. Automobile transporters operating under this
42 subsection may backhaul cargo or general freight if the weight
43 of such cargo or freight does not exceed the limits imposed
44 under s. 316.535. Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b), any
45 straight truck or truck tractor-semitrailer combination engaged
46 in the transportation of horticultural trees may allow the load
47 to extend up to an additional 10 feet beyond the rear of the
48 vehicle, provided the said trees are resting against a retaining
49 bar mounted above the truck bed so that the root balls of the
50 trees rest on the floor and to the front of the truck bed and
51 the tops of the trees extend up over and to the rear of the
52 truck bed, and provided the overhanging portion of the load is
53 covered with protective fabric.
54 (a) Straight trucks.—A straight truck may not exceed a
55 length of 40 feet in extreme overall dimension, exclusive of
56 safety and energy conservation devices approved by the
57 department for use on vehicles using public roads. A straight
58 truck may attach a forklift to the rear of the cargo bed,
59 provided the overall combined length of the vehicle and the
60 forklift does not exceed 50 feet. Except as otherwise provided
61 in this section, a straight truck may tow no more than one
62 trailer, and the overall length of the truck-trailer combination
63 may not exceed 68 feet, including the load thereon.
64 Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, a truck
65 trailer combination engaged in the transportation of boats, or
66 boat trailers whose design dictates a front-to-rear stacking
67 method may not exceed the length limitations of this paragraph
68 exclusive of the load; however, the load may extend up to an
69 additional 6 feet beyond the rear of the trailer.
70 (b) Semitrailers.—
71 1. A semitrailer operating in a truck tractor-semitrailer
72 combination may not exceed 48 feet in extreme overall outside
73 dimension, measured from the front of the unit to the rear of
74 the unit and the load carried thereon, exclusive of safety and
75 energy conservation devices approved by the department for use
76 on vehicles using public roads, unless it complies with
77 subparagraph 2. A semitrailer which exceeds 48 feet in length
78 and is used to transport divisible loads may operate in this
79 state only if issued a permit under s. 316.550 and if such
80 trailer meets the requirements of this chapter relating to
81 vehicle equipment and safety. Except for highways on the tandem
82 trailer truck highway network, public roads deemed unsafe for
83 longer semitrailer vehicles or those roads on which such longer
84 vehicles are determined not to be in the interest of public
85 convenience shall, in conformance with s. 316.006, be restricted
86 by the Department of Transportation or by the local authority to
87 use by semitrailers not exceeding a length of 48 feet, inclusive
88 of the load carried thereon but exclusive of safety and energy
89 conservation devices approved by the department for use on
90 vehicles using public roads. Truck tractor-semitrailer
91 combinations shall be afforded reasonable access to terminals;
92 facilities for food, fuel, repairs, and rest; and points of
93 loading and unloading.
94 2. A semitrailer which is more than 48 feet but not more
95 than 57 feet in extreme overall outside dimension, as measured
96 pursuant to subparagraph 1., may operate on public roads, except
97 roads on the State Highway System which are restricted by the
98 Department of Transportation or other roads restricted by local
99 authorities, if:
100 a. The distance between the kingpin or other peg that locks
101 into the fifth wheel of a truck tractor and the center of the
102 rear axle or rear group of axles does not exceed 41 feet, or, in
103 the case of a semitrailer used exclusively or primarily to
104 transport vehicles in connection with motorsports competition
105 events, the distance does not exceed 46 feet from the kingpin to
106 the center of the rear axles; and
107 b. It is equipped with a substantial rear-end underride
108 protection device meeting the requirements of 49 C.F.R. s.
109 393.86, “Rear End Protection.”
110 (c) Tandem trailer trucks.—
111 1. Except for semitrailers and trailers of up to 28 1/2
112 feet in length which existed on December 1, 1982, and which were
113 actually and lawfully operating on that date, no semitrailer or
114 trailer operating in a truck tractor-semitrailer-trailer
115 combination may exceed a length of 28 feet in extreme overall
116 outside dimension, measured from the front of the unit to the
117 rear of the unit and the load carried thereon, exclusive of
118 safety and energy conservation devices approved by the
119 Department of Transportation for use on vehicles using public
120 roads.
121 2. Tandem trailer trucks conforming to the weight and size
122 limitations of this chapter and in immediate transit to or from
123 a terminal facility as defined in this chapter may operate on
124 the public roads of this state except for residential
125 neighborhood streets restricted by the Department of
126 Transportation or local jurisdictions. In addition, the
127 Department of Transportation or local jurisdictions may restrict
128 these vehicles from using streets and roads under their
129 maintenance responsibility on the basis of safety and
130 engineering analyses, provided that the restrictions are
131 consistent with the provisions of this chapter. The Department
132 of Transportation shall develop safety and engineering standards
133 to be used by all jurisdictions when identifying public roads
134 and streets to be restricted from tandem trailer truck
135 operations.
136 3. Except as otherwise provided in this section, within 5
137 miles of the Federal National Network for large trucks, tandem
138 trailer trucks shall be afforded access to terminals; facilities
139 for food, fuel, repairs, and rest; and points of loading and
140 unloading.
141 4. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special
142 law to the contrary, all local system tandem trailer truck route
143 review procedures must be consistent with those adopted by the
144 Department of Transportation.
145 5. Tandem trailer trucks employed as household goods
146 carriers and conforming to the weight and size limitations of
147 this chapter shall be afforded access to points of loading and
148 unloading on the public streets and roads of this state, except
149 for streets and roads that have been restricted from use by such
150 vehicles on the basis of safety and engineering analyses by the
151 jurisdiction responsible for maintenance of the streets and
152 roads.
153 (d) Maxi-cube vehicles.—Maxi-cube vehicles shall be allowed
154 to operate on routes open to tandem trailer trucks under the
155 same conditions applicable to tandem trailer trucks as specified
156 by this section.
157 (4) LOAD EXTENSION LIMITATION.—The load upon any vehicle
158 operated alone, or the load upon the front vehicle of a
159 combination of vehicles, may not extend more than 3 feet beyond
160 the front wheels of the vehicle or the front bumper of the
161 vehicle if it is equipped with a bumper. However, the load upon
162 any stinger-steered automobile transporter may not extend more
163 than 4 feet beyond the front bumper of the vehicle.
164 (a) The limitations of this subsection do not apply to
165 bicycle racks carrying bicycles on public sector transit
166 vehicles.
167 (b) The provisions of This subsection does shall not apply
168 to a front-end loading collection vehicle, when:
169 1. The front-end loading mechanism and container or
170 containers are in the lowered position;
171 2. The vehicle is engaged in collecting solid waste or
172 recyclable or recovered materials;
173 3. The vehicle is being operated at speeds less than 20
174 miles per hour with the vehicular hazard-warning lights
175 activated; and
176 4. The extension does not exceed 8 feet 6 inches.
177 (16) TOWAWAY TRAILER TRANSPORTER COMBINATIONS.—An unladen
178 power unit may tow two trailers or semitrailers when the
179 combination is not used to carry property, the overall
180 combination length does not exceed 82 feet, and the total gross
181 weight of the combination does not exceed 26,000 pounds. The
182 trailers or semitrailers must constitute inventory property of a
183 manufacturer, distributor, or dealer of such trailers or
184 semitrailers.
185 Section 3. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section
186 316.545, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
187 316.545 Weight and load unlawful; special fuel and motor
188 fuel tax enforcement; inspection; penalty; review.—
189 (3)
190 (c)1. For a vehicle fueled by natural gas or electric
191 batteries, the fine is calculated by reducing the actual gross
192 vehicle weight by the certified weight difference between the
193 natural gas tank or electric battery system and fueling system
194 and a comparable diesel tank and fueling system. Upon request by
195 any weight inspector or law enforcement officer, the vehicle
196 operator must present written certification that identifies the
197 weight of the natural gas tank or electric battery system and
198 fueling system and the difference in weight of a comparable
199 diesel tank and fueling system. The written certification must
200 originate from the vehicle manufacturer or the installer of the
201 natural gas tank or electric battery system and fueling system.
202 2. The actual gross vehicle weight for vehicles fueled by
203 natural gas or electric batteries may not exceed 82,000 pounds,
204 excluding the weight allowed for idle-reduction technology under
205 paragraph (b).
206 3. This paragraph does not apply to those vehicles
207 described in s. 316.535(6).
208
209 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
210 And the title is amended as follows:
211 Between lines 21 and 22
212 insert:
213 amending s. 316.515, F.S.; revising length and load
214 extension limitations for stinger-steered automobile
215 transporters; authorizing automobile transporters to
216 backhaul certain cargo or freight under certain
217 circumstances; authorizing an unladen power unit to
218 tow a certain combination of trailers or semitrailers
219 under certain circumstances; amending s. 316.545,
220 F.S.; providing for the calculation of specified fines
221 for vehicles fueled by electric batteries;