11' 8" Truck-eating bridge in Durham, N.C.

[DIYSwede]

"The Dunning-Kruger Test for Truck Drivers"

The bridge even has its own home page (but has now grown to a full 12' 4"):
11 FOOT 8 - The Canopener Bridge

The documentary "Overheight must turn" (12:05):

https://vimeo.com/271945574

"The Definitive 11'8" Bridge Crash Compilation (9:49):

[mklotz]

One would think that a nation like the USA that boasts standards for its interstate highway system would have a standardized minimum height for overpasses. If we can get the states to adhere to standard dimensions for vehicle license plates, we should be able to agree on minimum bridge heights.

[Crusty]

There's lots of low overheads in the US that were in place before there were standards and in most cases the cost of correcting them has been deemed unacceptable by the ruling authority (usually local - e.g. Chicago is a nightmare for tall vehicles). In all cases it's ultimately the driver's responsibility to insure that his vehicle can safely pass along a roadway and it's likely that the wheel holders seen in the video didn't even know what their maximum height was before entering the underpass since none of them slowed down to a crawl to observe and judge the fit before hitting.

[mklotz]

There's lots of low overheads in the US that were in place before there were standards and in most cases the cost of correcting them has been deemed unacceptable by the ruling authority (usually local - e.g. Chicago is a nightmare for tall vehicles).

Yeah, nothing ever gets fixed until enough people die because of it. We'll just have to wait until a propane truck drives under a too-low bridge next to a day-care center.

In all cases it's ultimately the driver's responsibility to insure that his vehicle can safely pass along a roadway and it's likely that the wheel holders seen in the video didn't even know what their maximum height was before entering the underpass since none of them slowed down to a crawl to observe and judge the fit before hitting.

And public safety is ultimately the responsibility of the "ruling authorities".

[DIYSwede]

We'll just have to wait until a propane truck drives under a too-low bridge next to a day-care center.

Not an open day-care center nearby - nor is it a propane semi, but the sad story of a topped-up lobster reefer... ( 6:51):

[Frank S]

About all a shipper does is provide the item/s to be shipped and pay money the agent sometimes called a dispatcher does indeed arrange for most permits but not always, many haulers operate as independent contractors running under the flags of which ever trucking company they are leased to. In these cases a hauler may use the resources of the company's assets through their dispatchers and agents to arrange for their over dimensional, and special use permits or they might contact permitting agencies direct. Then again not all permits can be pre arranged in all states by a single or even multiple permit issuing facilities. there are still some states where the permits may be applied for in advance but must be picked up at the ports of entry. Ultimately whether a driver is hauling a load of dispatcher brains IE and empty trailer, hauling a single gram of something that will destroy all life on earth or trying to haul something the size of the State of Texas the final responsibility to make sure everything is all legal with the "T"s dotted and the "I"s crossed belongs to the guy with the steering wheel in his hands.

[Frank S]

Developing and emerging countries have an advantage over the USA in the underpass minimum height area. Since most of their infrastructure is based on modern vehicle sizes and carrying capacities when they construct their roads the roads are built to a higher set of weight standards than the USA has they are built to have a use life of 100 years and are regularly re topped to insure they remain smooth the bridges are a minimum of 5 meter with 5.5 being the normal minimum a new overpass will be constructed this allows for years of re topping without the need to grind away the surface prior to adding a new layer but normally many countries will only allow 2 layers put down before grinding back down to the concrete
In Israel for instance the highway that runs the length of the country is capable of being used as a runway for aircraft of almost any size almost anywhere along its length this was done because of the threat of losing their established airports. In the oil rich countries on the Saudi Arabian peninsula their roads are made to withstand 2, 3 even 4 times the maximum axle weights allowed here in the USA

[Frank S]

One guy out of all of them had reservations about driving under it but decided it was worth taking the chance He should have driven the miles around it.

[meyer77]

Years back when I moved from NJ to WV I rented that same truck (26ft. 26,000#).
On the second trip of three, I was moving some heavy machinery and thought I might be over weight. When I got close to the weigh station I got off the interstate and took the back road.
When I came to a turn the GPS said to go left but I did not think that was correct so I went right (not a good idea).
After about seven miles on a two lane road (with no place to turn around) I came to tunnel. The sign said 12'3" IIRC the truck was 12' 1" or 12' 2". As I sat there thinking about what to do (did I mention this was at night?) a truck pulled up behind me, the driver got out came up to me and said "I don't think you are going to make it".
I said to him I think i have 1 or 2 inches clearance.
After a short discussion we decided he would guide me thru.
I made it without any problem.
After unloading I realized I was not over weight.

A few years ago I was on the interstate in WV and as I neared an exit there was a road closed sign, I exited and got onto a road that ran parallel to the interstate.
When I neared a bridge overpass there was a large dump truck body wedged between the road and the bottom of the bridge. The cab and frame was in the median.
The driver was killed in the crash.
Apparently he had the body up when he got on the highway, I don't under how one could miss the fact the body was in the raised position when he got into the cab.

[DIYSwede]

"Oversize Load" signs are only there to warn other drivers...
This one managed to squeeze not only a bed, but an entire dump truck under a bridge: