If it don't fit, you must acquit

[An Haddock]

Coming back from a morning business networking meeting I had already endured a few idiot drivers... people cruising in the passing lane, a couple of folks who nearly pulled out right in front of me, etc.

Going around one of the few circles left in New Jersey I was a couple of cars back from an 18 wheeler truck. Well, he suddenly realized, about 4 feet before getting to a bridge, that he may not fit. So he stops right before the overpass. With 2 lanes of traffic now quickly backing up behind him due to the morning rush.

The guy had to get out of his truck to look and see if he was going to fit. And if he did, it was by mere inches.

So thanks, guy, for not being familiar with the overpass in the area, not spotting it until you were on top of it, and for blocking rush hour traffic, slowing everyone else down.

Bleah.

[mjr]

The guy had to get out of his truck to look and see if he was going to fit. And if he did, it was by mere inches.

Bleah.

Here in Texas, there's a sign a distance before the overpass that says the clearance. Then, shortly thereafter, there is an exit, in case you can't fit under it.

Not only that, but there are signs on the overpasses themselves that have the clearances on them.

I'd assume they have the same things in New Jersey.

Does the guy not know how tall his truck is?

[Crossbow]

Someone's not using decent routing software. Then again, that software isn't cheap.

Hey wolfie, any idea how many companies actually use routing software that understands overpass height?

[It's me]

Okay, we cant have a thread about trucks (almost) hitting overpasses without this:

http://11foot8.com/

I know this has been posted before, but there is always something new.

[dalesys]

I'll bet there was less traffic delay/congestion from him stopping than if he had conducted an accordion solo in the underpass.

[Argus]

There is also this footage from one particular overpass in downtown Indianapolis: https://youtu.be/reCZYgbXBcw

Trucks passing through the city are supposed to take I-465 around it.

[wolfie]

Hey wolfie, any idea how many companies actually use routing software that understands overpass height?

A lot of the larger companies use routing software, but not all routing software has complete and accurate databases. Some years back, directions I got from a customer said to take route "C". I double-checked using Co-Pilot Laptop 11 (with the "53 foot trailer" option selected) and it said to take route "A", which was shorter. Got to the turnoff for route "A", and there was a sign "Trailers over 28 feet prohibited". Continued toward the exit for route "C", and the software recalculated, saying I should take route "B". Get to the exit, and there was a sign saying that vehicles over 10 tons were prohibited. Wind up taking route "C".

[An Haddock]

Okay, we cant have a thread about trucks (almost) hitting overpasses without this:

http://11foot8.com/

I know this has been posted before, but there is always something new.

I love that web site.


I would have to think that a good driver would know the height of his vehicle. And I would have to believe if this guy was paying attention he should have seen the overpass coming from at least 30 - 40 feet away.

[wolfie]

Missed the fact that it was New Jersey. New York and New Jersey are notorious for having clearance signs that lie - in many cases, the actual clearance is a foot or two higher than what's posted. There are a few, however, that list the actual clearance. One route I travel a lot used to have an old, lying sign for 12'8" (first time I took that route, I hit the brakes - then saw another truck barreling through from the other direction). It now has an updated sign saying 14'0".

The guy may have been used to the lying signs, then encountered one that told the truth.

[eltf177]

In central VA there was a sign on one route stating that trucks couldn't take a certain side route and drivers were NOT to follow GPS instructions.

Obviously this was enough of a problem a sign needed to be installed...

[EricKei]

the actual clearance is a foot or two higher than what's posted.

Definitely a problem, but better than the opposite issue, I suppose ^_^

[CaptainThrifty]

So thanks, guy, for not being familiar with the overpass in the area, not spotting it until you were on top of it, and for blocking rush hour traffic, slowing everyone else down.

Bleah.

As a driver, I can add a perspective to this. First if he was from out of area, then no he would not be familiar with overpasses. You don't give enough detail to know if he was local or reasonably likely to be a regular in the area. As to heights, I have come across overpasses with signage way before it that gives a height I should be able to get under, but when I get there I think looks a lot lower. Kudos to the driver for checking first. As someone noted, it snarled up traffic for a lot less time than otherwise.

[little_miss_springfield]

directions I got from a customer said to take route "C". I double-checked using Co-Pilot Laptop 11 (with the "53 foot trailer" option selected) and it said to take route "A", which was shorter. Got to the turnoff for route "A", and there was a sign "Trailers over 28 feet prohibited". Continued toward the exit for route "C", and the software recalculated, saying I should take route "B". Get to the exit, and there was a sign saying that vehicles over 10 tons were prohibited. Wind up taking route "C".

Well, what do you know. The customer was right.

[wolfie]

Customer was right, but a resource which was marketed as providing directions for trucks was wrong. Worst part is that it claimed to use database X, which the carrier I was driving for at the time used to calculate distances for pay purposes. Wasn't able to get an answer about what route I was paid for.

[little_miss_springfield]

It's just a customer being right about anything is a rarity on this forum

I've heard stories about gps systems being spectacularly wrong, like telling somebody to turn into a wall.