Low Clearance Height 13'6"

Simple English; clearance 13'6" is saying 13'6" WILL fit...13'7" may not...

Get out your tape measure.

The suggestion to set your CB antennas to 13'7" is a good idea.

When in doubt, Get Out And Look, or stop and watch the other trucks fit...

chemical customer in NJ has the driveway between a 13'6" bridge and the 12'6" one it hides.

The printed direction sheet we gave out had the warning about the second bridge in CAPS...

A lot of chemical tankers will clear 12'6" [frequently cleared a 12'4" near our Bayonne terminal] but, despite the warning not to turn left coming out a 13'6" van would hit that bridge on a regular basis...

 

A lot of bridges slope too, a lane change can give you a few spare inches if you give yourself enough time and are lucky on approach.

If youre preplanning on maps with a bridge in mind, switch google from satellite to topo view. If theres a hill or bank to the east the east lane will probably be higher and vice versa. Shadows can help on satellite view.

I set my stacks 2" higher than the bunk, at 11'8. With little circle mirrors pointed at then. Whiskers.

 

Not always the same rule. USUALLY when a sign says 13’6” clearance it means a vehicle 13’6” high should be able to clear it. You have to be careful tho some places say 13’6” and it’s 13’6.5” high from the road but it’s on a slope where a longer vehicle might still hit because the back or front end is on a higher angle. If your tandems are set farther than the state’s legal limit you may find yourself under this situation.

 

I had to go under one in Louisville, KY the other day. With a new trailer I was a little nervous..crept up to it with my 4-ways on and slowly went under. Noticed a lot of scrapes on the overhead but made it through without any problems. Personally I wouldn’t go hammer down under one because you could hit a good bump and damage the roof off your trailer.

On the way out of town I had to go under again. This time I saw a sign 12’ 4”? and had heart palpitations When my eyes finally adjusted I saw that it had an arrow for the right turn..major sigh of relief.

 

That rule isn't quite accurate. Atlantic Ave, on the BQE is marked 12'2", but 13'6" have no problems.

 

The 13’1” on Pennsylvania Turnpike startle me every time. (On shoulder)

 

Yes I should have said "at least a foot higher". Thanks for correcting me.