Is there a law requiring signs on survey trucks? (Florida)

I found this for MA, seem to apply to larger trucks than mine, and it's tied to federal law...
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News & Events > MA DOT Commercial Vehicle Regulations
Large fines could result from failure to comply with Federal Regulations recently adopted by the MA DOT

We’ve heard that a number of Massachusetts-only businesses have been stopped and ticketed for non-compliance with a fairly new regulation promulgated by the Mass. Department of Transportation (MA DOT) regarding commercial vehicles. Fines for non-compliance can be HUGE.

As your insurance provider, we CAN’T advise you regarding what specific regulations may or may not apply to you and your business, but we can keep you and our other customers with business policies informed so that you might investigate further. We highly recommend that you seek advice from an expert on these compliance issues, either through a trade group to which you belong or a consultant on these issues. There are two consultants in Massachusetts:

Fleet Safety Services, Inc.
12 Harvard Street
Worcester, MA 01609
T 800-215-2490 F 508-831-7611

The Transportation Advisor, Inc.
P.O. Box 558
Palmer, MA 01069
T 800-608-8890 F 413-284-0022

In essence, the Commonwealth has adopted the majority of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations as its own. Here is a description of what the MA DOT considers to be a “commercial vehicle:”

A motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more used for the transportation of property, or
A motor vehicle designed to transport more than 15 passengers, including the driver, or
A motor vehicle used in the transportation of hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placarding under the Federal Hazardous Materials Transportation Act.

The regulation goes on to say that it is the intent of the regulation that “commercial motor vehicle” under the state regulation shall have the same meaning as the federal regulation.

The specific portions of the federal regulations adopted by the MA DOT are:

Part 382—Controlled Substances and Alcohol Use and Testing
Part 390—General Applicability and Definitions/General Requirements and Information
Part 391—Driver Qualification
Part 392—Driving of Commercial Motor Vehicles
Part 393—Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation
Part 395—Hours of Service of Drivers
Part 396—Inspection Repair, and Maintenance
Part 397 Transportation of Hazardous Materials; Driving/Parking Rules

As a result, businesses operating only in Massachusetts that never before had to comply with the federal regulations will now need to comply with virtually all of the federal regulations except the requirement for DOT numbers.

As an example, a contractor with a Ford F-350 (one-ton) pickup truck with a GVWR of 12,500 pounds and an E-350 cargo van with a GVWR of 11,000 pounds operating ONLY in Massachusetts will now be subject to many of the federal regulations including:

Vehicle Markings: The legal name of the business or, if a dba, the registered owner of the vehicle must be appear on both sides of the self-propelled CMV; be in letters that contrast sharply in color with the background on which the letters are placed; be readily legible, during daylight hours, from a distance of 50 feet (15.24 meters) while the CMV is stationary; and be kept and maintained in a manner that retains the legibility required by paragraph (c)(3) of this section.
Special Safety Equipment: All commercial motor vehicles operating exclusively in Massachusetts will be subject to the MA Commercial Vehicle Inspection, which is the equivalent of the Federal Motor Carrier inspection. A copy of the inspection report must be in the vehicle.
Medical Certificate & Valid Driver’s License: Required to be carried by the driver.
Hours of Service Regulation: Applies to all inter– and intra-state commercial motor vehicles.

For intrastate motor vehicles over 26,000 pounds GVWR, there would be added requirements including the need for a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), pre-employment, post-accident and scientifically-based random substance and alcohol testing.

The Massachusetts Association of Independent Insurance Agents put together a chart of what provisions apply to interstate commercial motor vehicles. The provisions on the chart, with the exception of the DOT Registration requirements, also apply to intrastate vehicles. To access the chart, click here.

Source: Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents

Probably varies by state, but around here a commercial vehicle needs to have signage and also a first aid kit.

Also, commercial vehcles are not permitted on parkways in NY (but are in NJ).

Don't know about FL, but in MI you need signage to validate your right to trespass. I believe it included both sides of the vehicle, and the back. It needed to state the company name and phone number.

Technically, without the vehicle signs a surveyor didn't have the right to trespass. Kind of a big deal if it ever came to it, but don't know of anybody who ever had a problem.

Not sure about AZ. I keep magnetic signs in the truck and use them on occasion but not very often. I prefer to remain a bit anonymous, if they want to know something they can come and talk to me.

I believe you are correct sir.

I'm an urban surveyor, so when I trespass, I do it on foot. The conversation came about because some a-hole 6 houses down from the house was surveying today called the cops on me. Long story ... cop said the guy was "a loon" ... but I when I told a colleague he said he was "surprised the cop didn't cite me for not having my name on my truck", then went on to tell me it has be in letters 3 inches tall and on both sides and the rear ... I can't find that law anywhere, and I did quite a bit of internet searching before posting.

There was when I practiced in Florida, for all commercial trucks, but that was more years ago than I care to remember.

"Someone told me today there is a Florida law (or BOR regulation) that requires signs on survey trucks (or all commercial vehicles?) True or False?"

FALSE

Have a great weekend!

There is nothing in 472 or 5J-17 that I am aware of that deals with vehicle signage. The only item that I am aware in the survey regs that deals with "signage" is related to the survey that you provide to your client if you do not have liability insurance.

I don't have any signage on my truck. I might get some though, since I just changed vehicles from my well known yellow frontier to a blue dodge Ram. nobody waves at me anymore. I'm lonely. haha.

Although there is no "Law", seems like to me a lot of developments we worked in Hillsborough County required some sort of signage for all contractors, etc...and some of the high end subdivisions with gated entrance...

Not that I've seen in Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade....pretty much every county in Florida. We have crews over the whole state and have never had an issue with anyone, even FDOT. Nowdays it seems to be better NOT to have your company on the side of the trucks with all the theft going on in south Florida. We do have magnets with the company name, but no address or phone number. If someone want's to call and complain, they can look our name up in the phone book or google us.

So a ford f-150 wouldn't have to?

Go buy an old VW Bug to ride around in, everybody looks at you and most wave.