Relating to: weight limits for vehicles transporting grain, feed, or commercial fertilizer. (FE)

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Russell Goodwin and 8 co-sponsors

Authorizes a new permit for six-axle trucks carrying grain, feed, or fertilizer to haul up to 91,000 lb on designated state highways, with a $325 fee and spring thaw suspensions.

Representative Emerson added as a coauthor

Summary — AB 679 (2025): Weight limits for vehicles transporting grain, feed, or commercial fertilizer

Status: Enacted (Chapter 275, Statutes of 2025). Approved by Governor 2025-10-03.

Purpose
- Authorizes a new vehicle weight permit for trucks (or combinations) carrying grain, feed, or commercial fertilizer to operate at gross weights up to 91,000 pounds on specified state highways, with conditions intended to balance agricultural transport efficiency and roadway protection.

Key provisions
- Creates two statutory provisions:
- 348.25 (8) (b) 4r. — establishes the permit fee: $325 for a permit issued under the new subsection.
- 348.27 (21) — creates permits (annual or consecutive-month) authorizing transport of grain, feed, or commercial fertilizer by vehicles/vehicle combinations that:
- Have six or more axles and that exceed the otherwise applicable maximum gross weight in s. 348.15 (3)(c).
- Are limited to a maximum gross vehicle weight of 91,000 pounds.
- May exclude (i.e., not count) any axle that does not impose at least 8% of the gross weight when calculating axle counts for permit eligibility.
- Are valid only on highways within the state trunk highway system and only on routes specified by the Department of Transportation (DOT).
- May use non‑trunk highways only with written route approval from the officer in charge of maintenance of those highways.
- Are not valid on interstate highways except to the extent allowed by federal law without loss/reduction of federal aid.
- May be suspended by DOT during spring thaw to protect pavement/structures.

Nonstatutory provision: Directs DOT not to prepare the usual report required under s. 13.096 for bills that create exceptions to vehicle weight limits (i.e., DOT is expressly barred from preparing that report for this bill).

Who is affected
- Primary: agricultural shippers, haulers, and producers transporting grain, feed, or commercial fertilizer — they can carry larger loads under permit (up to 91,000 lbs).
- Secondary: DOT and local highway maintenance authorities (route approvals, enforcement, ability to suspend permits during spring thaw).
- Indirect: Roadway owners/users and local governments concerned with pavement and bridge wear; motor carriers that compete on weight-limited routes.

Potential impacts and considerations
- Economic: Fewer trips per ton transported (improved efficiency and lower per-unit transport cost) for agricultural commodities covered.
- Infrastructure: Higher permitted gross weights can increase pavement and bridge stress; limitations (route restrictions, spring‑thaw suspensions, local route approval) aim to mitigate risks.
- Fiscal: Permit fee ($325) generates revenue to DOT; administrative/inspection/enforcement responsibilities may increase.
- Federal aid: Interstate use explicitly limited to avoid jeopardizing federal highway aid.

Procedure / timeline
- Bill enacted and chaptered as Chapter 275, Statutes of 2025; presented to and approved by the Governor (10/03/2025). Statutory text creates the two new provisions cited above and takes effect as provided by law.

Sponsors
- Author: (listed in materials) Pellerin. Coauthors/sponsors listed in materials for related versions.