Terror Shutdown Puts Cramp on Trucking
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The highway, which cuts across South Florida from Miami west to Naples, Fla. is one of only a few highways in the area that run east-to-west through the Everglades. It was closed after two cars were stopped under suspicion of being involved in a possible terrorist incident.
Charles Brantley, president of the Florida Trucking Association, said that he suspected many truckers were able to avoid the shutdown, which began about 1 a.m. Friday morning.
Brantley told Transport Topics that there are really only two other routes available for east-west traffic in South Florida – State Route 80 and U.S. 41.
"It's incredible" how many trucks travel on I-75, Brantley said, and that the largest number of trucks enter the highway in central Florida, north of the incident.
"I suspect it only took about two truckers before their communications opened up and re-routed. Of course it costs them a lot of time, and that's money," Brantley said.
Brantley said that the Florida Highway Patrol and the Florida Department of Transportation’s Motor Carrier Compliance Division both broadcast information to motorists about the shutdown.
Pablo Robles, the owner of Statewide Express Inc., said six of his 20 trucks were stuck in the backup caused by the shutdown.
"Some of our trucks may have to come back to Miami and start again in the morning," Robles said in a telephone interview with Transport Topics.
Robles said that his remaining trucks are trying to route around the blockage.
