Truck Transportation During Natural Disasters: Florida’s Experience Lt. Colonel David B. Binder Deputy Director Deputy Director Florida Department of Transportation Motor Carrier Compliance Office

Areas of Focus  Fuel  Emergency Orders and Permits  Pre-staging  Road closures and detours  Traffic flow

Fuel  Trucks are less impacted than cars due to fuel capacity  Refueling for trucks at Logistical Staging Areas (LSA’s)  Fuel trucks for first responder vehicles are given escorts by marked DOT/MCCO patrol cars

Relief From Regulations  Governor’s Executive Order triggers relief from safety regulations pursuant to 49 CFR part which includes hours of service  Order provides for revised size and weight regulations (up to 95,000 lbs with 5 axles and outer bridge of not less than 51’)  Order also provides for relief from IFTA and IRP requirements

Industry Notifications  Trucking Associations  CVSA  FMCSA  Individual Carriers  Communication with neighboring states  Web site ( or

Pre-Staging  FEMA relief supplies pre-staged at LSA’s and at the comfort stations at DOT weigh in motion (WIM) facilities  Other trucks are welcomed at the WIM Comfort Stations  Locations are in an area that is not expected to be impacted but close enough to respond quickly

FDOT Comfort Station

Road and Bridge Closures  Erosion  Deck displacement  Obstructions by objects  Obstructions by debris  Flooding

Interstate 10 Bridge

Mississippi State Bridge

U. S. 90 Bridge in Mississippi

Bridge Approach Washout

Roadway Erosion

Unusual Roadway Obstruction

Motorist Information Systems  Dial 511    Variable message boards  Signs  Motorist information radio systems

Special Considerations  Driver should be prepared to meet their own sustenance needs for at least 3 days  Local curfews may effect deliveries during night time hours  Request for law enforcement escorts should be limited to actual security needs  Anticipate bridge closures when winds are 39 mph or greater

Detour Routes  Bridge damage and roadway obstructions may require extensive detours  Vehicle size and weight may require additional detours

Florida’s 2006 Legislative Cargo Security Summit  The 2006 summit will be held on January 25 th and 26, 2006 at the Ramada Inn, North Monroe Street in Tallahassee.  This summit is co-hosted by the International Cargo Security Council, the Florida Trucking Association and Florida's Statewide Truck and Cargo Theft Task Force.  Registration information is available online at

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