14-26.0041. Definitions and Terms

All terms in this rule chapter shall have the same meaning as defined in section 316.003, F.S., except that “Department” shall refer to the Department of Transportation. Additionally, the following terms are defined:

(1) “Applicant” means a person or entity requesting a permit.

(2) “Axle Spacing” means the measurement between the centers of the axles as measured from center-to-center of wheel hubs.

(3) “Divisible Load” means a load which exceeds the legal weight, length, width or height limits established in sections 316.515 and 316.535, F.S., which can be dismantled using appropriate equipment without destroying the value or compromising the intended use of the load.

(4) “Escort” means a person authorized in the manner prescribed in paragraphs 14-26.012(2)(b)-(c), F.A.C., to perform accompanying duties for overweight or overdimensional vehicles.

(5) “Escort Vehicles” means a vehicle independent of the permitted vehicle, equipped with a working, amber warning light located on top of the escort vehicle, and operated by a qualified escort, law enforcement escort, or any combination shown in Rule 14-26.012, F.A.C.

(6) “Excluding Holidays” means movement is prohibited all day on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If any of these holidays fall on Saturday, the preceding Friday shall also be observed as a holiday. If any of these holidays fall on a Sunday, the following Monday shall also be observed as a holiday.

(7) “External Bridge” or “outer bridge” means the distance from the center of the front steering axle of the vehicle (or combination of vehicles) to the center of the last axle of the vehicle (or combination of vehicles).

(8) “Fifth Wheel” means a device mounted on a truck tractor or similar towing vehicle (e.g., converter dolly) which interfaces with and couples to the upper coupler assembly of a semitrailer.

(9) “Flag” means a red or florescent orange device used to warn approaching traffic of a safety hazard.

(10) “Governmental Entity” means as defined in section 215.985(2)(c), F.S.

(11) “Inner-Bridge” means the distance between the centers of any two or more consecutive axles on a vehicle (or combination of vehicles) traveling on the interstate system only, exclusive of the external bridge.

(12) “Kingpin Setting” means the distance between the kingpin or other peg which locks into the fifth wheel and the center of the rear axle or the center of the rear axle grouping (whichever applies).

(13) “Law Enforcement Escort” means any police officer as defined in section 316.003(32), F.S., operating any vehicle owned by a law enforcement agency using blue or red and blue warning lights to accompany an oversize/overweight vehicle.

(14) “Local Moves” means hauling not more than a 50 mile radius from the point of origin.

(15) “Manufactured Building” or “modular building” means a closed structure, building assembly, or system of subassemblies, which may include structural, electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilating, or other service systems made for installation or erection as a finished building or part of a finished building, which shall include, but not be limited to residential, commercial, institutional, storage, and industrial structures. The term includes buildings not intended for human habitation such as lawn storage buildings and storage sheds made and assembled offsite by a manufacturer certified in conformance with section 553.381, F.S.

(16) “Manufactured Home” means as defined in section 320.01(2)(b), F.S.

(17) “Mobile Home” means as defined in section 320.01(2)(a), F.S.

(18) “Multiple Loading” means the placing of more than one item on a vehicle so as to cause the overall measurements to exceed the maximum length, width, height, and weight limitations established in sections 316.515 and 316.535, F.S.

(19) “Multi-Trip Permit” or “blanket” or “annual permit” or “Route Specific Blanket Permit” means authorization issued to allow multiple trips for a period not to exceed 12 months.

(20) “Non-Routine Permit” means authorization issued with a structural evaluation or override authorization.

(21) “Overdimensional” or “oversize” means any vehicle configuration, including the load, which exceeds the limitations provided in Section 316.515, F.S.

(22) “Overhang” means that portion of a load or vehicle attachment that projects beyond the front or rear wheels of a vehicle or the front or rear bumper of a vehicle if it is equipped with a front or rear bumper.

(23) “Overweight” means any vehicle configuration, including the load, which exceeds the limitations provided in Section 316.535, F.S.

(24) “Permit Office” means the Permit Section of the Office of Maintenance, Florida Department of Transportation, with offices located in Tallahassee, Florida. Website: www.fdotmaint.com/permit/.

(25) “Permittee” means the applicant to whom an oversize/overweight permit is issued.

(26) “Routine Permit” means authorization issued by the Department for an overweight or overdimensional load that did not require a structural evaluation, local movement restrictions, or override authorization.

(27) “Self-Propelled Equipment” means a single rigid frame unit propelled with its own power source which does not transport a divisible load, and includes equipment such as earth handling equipment, cranes (which may include a dolly attachment), derricks and fire trucks.

(28) “Trip Permit” means authorization issued to allow a single hauling of a load from point of origin to destination.

(29) “Truck Crane” means any vehicle (which may include a dolly attachment) designed and constructed to be used primarily for lifting, lowering, or traversing while operating from either a secure stationary position, or in a rolling position, if specifically designed for rolling operation.

(30) “Valid Permit” means authorization pursuant to section 316.550, F.S., by the Department that has not been altered, changed, or otherwise modified, unless in writing by the Department, accompanied by the original permit.

(31) “Warning Light” means a class 2 electrical lighting device located on a permitted vehicle and/or escort vehicles, used to warn all approaching traffic of a possible safety hazard. The device shall be any one or combination of the following:

(a) Rotating;

(b) Strobe;

(c) Flashing.

(32) “Warning Sign” means a sign device, located on permitted vehicle and escort vehicles, used to warn all approaching traffic of a possible safety hazard.

(33) “Wrecker Permit” means authorization issued for the operation of a wrecker where the combined weight of the wrecker plus towed disabled vehicle exceeds the maximum weight established by section 316.535, F.S.

Rulemaking Authority 316.550(6), 334.044(2) FS. Law Implemented 316.515, 316.550 FS. History–New 9-15-87, Amended 7-21-91, 6-23-96, 11-10-98, 2-1-10, 10-4-10, 2-5-13, 8-23-16, 4-24-18.