Originally Posted by crb

Nyc as a newbie, didn't realize until after this that they account for snow pack. Sign reads all trucks over 12' 11" must exit no signs on the ramp after that. No trucks in front of me so I got off. Oops! Guy is sitting in a wheel chair at the bottom of the ramp as I'm sitting there DUMB founded. Guy in the wheel chair gets on my steps says for $18.50 he would direct me through Manhattan.

i made the same fatal mistake on my first trip through NYC. i was so mad. took me 2 hours to get out of manhattan.

Originally Posted by snowwy

i'll have to look at my atlas when i get back to the truck. but what's the difference between a staa and non staa. and how do you know.
you mentioned highlighted roads but the 550 on the map is just as orange as the rest of the roads.

scuse my ignorance. but i've only been back 15 months. and the first time i was out 13 years ago. i never heard the term staa. course, gps didn't exist back then either. neither did the mobile internet.

If you have a Rand McNally Motor Carrier atlas, US550 is marked as a four lane non-freeway (i.e., not a blue line, but orange with little red lines on each side). All routes in the motor carrier atlas that are STAA are highlighted with a orange (it extends both sides of the road for all roads covered under STAA). Rand McNally has it labeled "National Network", not to be confused with the US Route or Interstate Route system. Any road highlighted orange in the atlas is STAA. They are covered by STAA length, height, and weight limits (unless there is a specific restriction for a road, which would be listed in the low clearances and restrictions secton.


At the front of your atlas, there will be three sections:

State Access Policies, National Weight and Size Provisions, and State/Provincial Weight and Size Limits


National Weight and Size Provisions lists the limits for each state for STAA. Each state has their own limits. No state can restrict further than 53' trailer on STAA routes other than to give stipulations, such as kingpin to tandem length, rear overhang, etc. No state can restrict below 20k single axles and 34k dual axles as well. But, there can be certain stipulations for certain STAA routes if the need arises (US83 NB in Texas had such a restriction despite being STAA for a while due to an old bridge).

Next up is the State/Provincial Weight and Size Limits which governs state routes NOT included in the STAA routes. Any time you venture off the national network (or STAA), you're governed by these restrictions. For instance, NJ has a 96" width restriction, Maryland has a 48' semi-trailer length, etc.

And lastly, is the first one, State Access Policies. This is how far the state is willing to let you stray from the National Network (STAA) onto their non-STAA routes before you're considered oversize or overweight. Most states either have a 1 Mile limit, or are listed as "unlimited" because they allow 12/34/34 and 53'x13'6x102" on their state routes. A few states have different restrictions, such as 5 miles, etc. Some say the shortest route to the shipper or receiver, etc.


Most officers will not know which road you're allowed to take unless they're DOT and are quite aware of their state's rules. Locals will not unless you're off the network and they know they're restricting your access for a route truckers love to shortcut on. I'm not saying I've never strayed off the STAA when I'm not allowed to... I have, many many times. But, you do so at your own risk.

I had my first run in with a low clearance just a few weeks ago in downtown Pittsburgh. When you get off of I 376 West at Grant Street I needed to make a right onto First Ave. This is the truck route. The truck route was closed for repaving and there was no posted detour. So I went a few blocks up to Sixth Avenue where there was enough room to make a right hand turn so I could get over 1 block. Then I figured I could just go around the truck route and make a left onto Second Avenue which is where the truck route comes out to. Well, there is a bridge there but there are no clearance signs posted. It slopes and it is really low on the right side where I was sitting. They had a detour sign to turn right so I figured I'd follow the detour and then regroup. Well, I started to make the right and once I got around the corner there was a car parked on the right hand side that I couldn't see until it was to late. I wasn't gonna make that so I had to back out of that turn. Luckily there was another trucker that was behind me. I jumped out and asked him if he has ever gone under the low bridge and he said he clears the bridge with a 13'6" trailer empty if you stay to the extreme left but it is tight. So I knew that I should be able to get under it. I threw on the 4 ways and crawled under the bridge and made the turn and was on my way after that.

That was the first time in 3 years I ever ran into that situation and it is a very scary and helpless feeling! I was about to call the police but luckily I ran into that Walgreen's driver!

The legs were a little rubbery for a while after that LOL. But in the end no damage to the truck, the trailer, or any property so I guess it was a victory.