Fla. eases truck restrictions for produce

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist on Wednesday issued an order to the state’s transportation department to relax the weight, height, length and width restrictions for trucks for the next 14 days in hopes of staying ahead of a cold snap.

   “The temporary easing of some highway restrictions allows farmers to more quickly transport their crops to processing facilities, thereby avoiding financial disaster,” said Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson, in a statement.

   Bronson’s office has alerted organizations representing the state’s agricultural producers and trucking interests of the governor’s action so they can load and transport crops in accordance with the relaxed highway restrictions.

   “This time of the year is particularly critical for Florida’s growers, who produce nearly all of our nation’s domestically produced fresh fruits and vegetables during the winter months,” Bronson said.

Source: American Shipper