Restricted route(s) questions

Even seasoned drivers get confused about this. The road you mention may be restricted for certain widths or weights or bridge weights. I've seen a road come to a "T" where you have to turn either right or left and too narrow to turn around. Two signs, to left "no trucks over 35', and to right "no truck route." I've delivered to places where the usual gross weight is right at 80,000 lbs., and the only way to get to the customer is to cross bridges where weight limit is "no trucks over 60,000 lbs." So, the answers are not obvious.

 

The weight restriction signs are usually after the intersection! Hahaaha

Mikeeee

 

I would use your Atlas as a general guide. You can also check with your company as to what routes they prefer you to drive. Here is where the big difference in experience comes between company and owner operator. After many years spent on the road as a company driver you will learn most places you can go and can't go. Most freight travels in and out of the same places for the most part. Also depending on what you are hauling ie: flatbed, reefer etc... you will know and become familiar with where the shipper and receivers are. When are starting out as a new driver its good to keep a little notebook as to what shortcuts you have taken and what small roads are ok for travel. I use to section it off by states and roads and if I needed to refresh my memory or remember which little shortcut I took it would be in my notebook. I would also keep track of all kinds of little secret parking places and or stores, restaurants (in my case, emergency vets) and also off the beat scales I could use. A lot of little farming towns and or mining towns have little scales you can use that aren't in any truck guide books. If you are out in the middle of nowhere and run out of hours and there is no rest stops or truck stops you can just check your little book to see where you had previously seen somewhere to park.

In this day in age there are so many high tech tools and apps and stuff like GPS and Google Earth but sometimes a good ol' fashion notebook is the most efficient. What's really cool is years later you can look back on it as a diary of your adventures! Ya, I know, that sounded corny~~~~!

Just to add a little side note, you can also ask local drivers but you need to use caution and special judgement when doing so. Some would love to put you into peril for a good laugh and some just plain don't really know and will give you false info unknowingly.

Use extra caution in states like Idaho!!! If you happen to get off the beaten path or even exit a major interstate it could result in very hefty fines! There are many, many restricted routes in that state. Another place famous for this is Chicago! Don't ever just whip off an exit because you are lost! Not only could you get a big fine but you may find yourself having to make a long back up to get out of a situation! My wife did this twice to me and when she did she expected me to get us out of the situation!

Good trip planning is crucial to your success!

 

Ain't that the truth.... seems more often than not you see the sign posted after it's too late to do anything about it.

 

I use a real old method that can sometimes help. I call the shipper and receiver and ask the way in,but also check the map. some have automated directions. Our warehouse in Charlotte is a good example. GPS says to turn at first light after exiting. that is a restricted road,homes and a real tight corner. correct way is go to next light and come from other way.

 

yeash this can be a tough one sometimes.....we have one at a paper plant in philly.....only way in directions say cross the bridge take a left at the first light.....well, the first light has a big sign on the pole "trucks no left turn".....but it's an industrial area and street.....there is NO other way in to the shipper. you have to make the left. makes no sense at all......other than just the turn being so tight and the stop line for opposing traffic on the left being right at the light and not set back for clearance......no way to get there from the other direction either.....one way in one way out...... believe me, you DON'T want to obey the sign and go straight......2/10 of a mile in the street goes to one lane and a 9% straight up grade......hardcore residential with cars on the sides and it just gets tighter and tighter and the trees get lower and lower.....had to stop in traffic and slide the tandems up just to make the turns to get turned around and headed back down the hill and towards the shipper and then had to deal with the right turn around the light pole where i should have made the left.....

found that one out the hard way. if i didn't get a call in after THAT excursion up the hill into the nieghborhood beating my trailer to death with the trees, i never will lol.....

the u-turn i had to make in traffic to extricate myself from that situation was just as fun but at least i found a little business with just enough of a parking lot and just enough of a hole in traffic to get it done....as someone brilliantly said on here once, the urgency of the situation dictates the urgency of the maneuver lol.....

i even checked the google maps before going in but of course it didn't show the 'no left' sign......after that i follow the company directions no matter what the signs or gps says.......until you always get that one that says 'no directions avaiable for the customer of this stop' lol.....