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"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):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USu8vT_tfdw
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.
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Crusty
And public safety is ultimately the responsibility of the "ruling authorities".Quote:
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.
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):Quote:
Originally Posted by mklotz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fc0avTFZrvA
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
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.
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.
"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:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmHGqfJ5KdI
While a 773 is normally a dump truck the one featured in the video is configured with a water tank making it a water tanker but that is just semantics.Quote:
Originally Posted by DIYSwede
Normally a bed on the larger trucks would be removed and shipped separately on the larger equipment for weight and height considerations shipping 2 loads is sometimes cheaper than shipping as a whole and there is the matter of reasonable reduction of size. On the Interstate system most states now allow 14' 1" as max legal height instead of the 13'6" High pole pilot vehicles are required over 15' just about everywhere now some states are requiring a high pole over 14'6" .
So several things went wrong here. First the driver probably fudged on the overall height to get less expensive over dimensional permits, the permit agency was not due diligent in their routing the road surface may have been topped reducing the clearance, the pilot if one had been hired failed to properly check the overhead height in 2 or 3 places as required when obstructions may exist. But most of all the driver ignored the 6 side observance rule when driving a truck especially #5&6 ground and sky Long multi axle rigs can gain several inches in height if the road surface slopes down and up under an over pass due to its length.
I wonder if he had one of these on board to check his height with. my guy who pulls the trailers he and I own together has one and it has proved very valuable more than once
https://www.amazon.com/Business-BA-P...-6&tag=mh0b-20
Does the driver normally get the permits? I could be wrong, but I would think the shipper would be responsible for that.
Permits aren't required for vehicles within standard size limits, but if oversize then the driver is required to have a permit with routing on it and usually those are arranged by the driver's dispatch office. Most of the vehicles in the first video were within standard limits but "permit not required" is no defense for careless vehicle operation. The driver in the second video is probably selling shoes now.
Vehicles carrying hazardous materials (propane for instance) are required to follow designated HazMat routes regardless of size, and a proposed day care center located along one (railroads are too) won't get a license to operate.
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.
Looking at that video, I would think that if the rental companies chipped in, they could pay to have the road bed lowered and be dollars ahead in no time. That is one strong overpass!
I wonder what it would cost to redress the road 6" lower, it must have been a possible answer.
depending on the footing they could probably lower the road a full 12 inches but that would mean redressing it a 100 feet to either side still should be cheaper than the alternatives they are faced with every time a delivery van type vehicle attempts to drive underQuote:
Originally Posted by tooly
The problem with lowering the road is that it can then become a drainage pond and expensive plumbing has to be installed to carry away rainwater. It's much cheaper to install warning signs and make drivers who cannot pass take another route.
The railroads were often built long before there were roads in the area and since grade is a big deal to railway architects they were intentionally kept as flat as possible. Later on someone decided that Model T's could cross under them in certain places and the major crossing design elements became locked in. Other people then came along and built stuff along the roadways, further locking the design.
Imagine a neighborhood treehouse that generations of kids have adopted for a while and each subsequent group changed it how they saw fit. That's similar to the way that our road system developed before Eisenhower first saw the Autobahn.
11 ft 8 bridge was raised, to 12 ft 4, in October of 2019.
Raising 11foot8 - 11 FOOT 8
Some of the problems of changing anything was 1) The bridge belongs to the railroad, and they didn't have much incentive to fix it, esp. since it involved raising the railroad, and bed, for a good distance in either direction, 2) The City of Durham installed warning signs, as if that's enough, 3) NC DOT maintains the road, and 4) there are sewer lines underneath the road, so lowering the road would entail tackling that little situation. Yeah, little situation. That's what she said.
Has it stopped all crashes? No, but they have lessened somewhat. There are still drivers out there who will ... crash, rip, tear up and such.
Much more description on that 11 ft 8 sight.