LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — Bigger, heavier semis could soon be rumbling down Central Florida streets. Some state lawmakers want to increase the weight limit for trucks by four tons.
However, some lawmakers are concerned those heavier trucks could ruin roads and cost taxpayers a lot more money to repair them more often. Since budgets are tight, county leaders say extra road work might have to wait.
From his 10-acre spread just off County Road 448 near Lake Jem, Ray Edwards watches the trucks go by.
"Every day, in the mornings when I'm walking, there will be a half-dozen in an hour," Edwards said.
Tractor trailers drive on a road where they're essentially off-limits. The trucking industry is pushing a bill in the Florida legislature to increase commercial semi weight limits from 80,000 pounds to 88,000 pounds over certain county and local roads. The people who maintain Lake County's roads say four more tons will do a lot of damage.
"A current truck is equal to about 100 cars passing in the same spot simultaneously," said Public Works Director Jim Stivender.
Stivender says county roads can't handle that kind of load.
"Local roads are not designed as interstates. So, you have to be careful how much weight you put on them," he said.
Supporters say more cargo on board will actually mean fewer trucks on the road and help an industry that needs a break because of high fuel costs. But the legislation does nothing to help counties repair damaged roads and, Ray Edwards said, it's already bad enough.
"Wrong thing to do. Keep it at 80,000. f you go out there and weigh them, I'd say 50 percent of them are overweight right today," Edwards said.
The legislature is expected to vote on the proposed new rules this week.
WFTV
