Low overpass question

I had loads to Chicago in the 1970s. The low clearance I remember could be driven under if you crossed into the opposing lanes with your headlights and four-ways on. Motorists seemed to know what you were doing.

 

Does that work if you are coming back the other direction also?

Mikeeee

 

FYI for NYC -

The rectangular white signs with black lettering placed directly onto
the bridge are actual clearances.

 

THANKS

Good Question, and now after I read the replies I understand the issue better.

Something we non-CDL drivers don't think of enough about.

 

Do you know what place this was?

 

Promoting blogsite

 

90% of the time Im over 15' high so I usually have a permit but there are times when I have to deviate from my route. The first thing I look for is how bad is the bridge banged up. If its never been hit or only has a few scratches on it, proceed slowly (do it long enough you learn to have a convex mirror pointed upwards and you know how to use it). If your truck has a post holding the mirrors on, buy a 6" convex mirror and point it at the top of your trailer. If you have a truck that you cant mount a mirror on, set one in your drivers door pouch, roll slowly to the bridge, hold the mirror up roll SLOWLY and LISTEN for any scraping, FEEL to see if there is resistance. Chances are if you do scrape that if you stop a few inches after contact, you can just back out.

 

Ah...the lost ability to read road signs. Years ago, that was the thing that separated the trucker from everyone else. Now...?

You're riding down the right lane on a 3 lane bigroad when you see a sign that says "RIGHT LANE ENDS 1 MILE". You move left. There's a truck ahead of you still in the right lane. The next sign reads "RIGHT LANE ENDS 1/2 mile". He's still in the right lane. You are trying to be courteous, and you flash your headlights to tell him to come over. There are arrows painted on the lane telling him to go left. He gets within a truck, slams on the brakes, full stop, and hits the left turn signal. What do you do?

Sorry, amigo. If you can't read road signs, I have no sympathy for you. I'm not going to stop to let you over.

Low overpasses is probably the biggest danger in my line of work. Had a driver call me up this week...he's pulling an oversized load from Texas to Quincy Massachusetts. 14'5 tall. First time to the east side. I told him that the company obviously has a lot of trust in him because they won't let just anyone pull an over height load on the east coast. But, if you mess up, that's the end of your career. Want to be safe(r)? Power your phone down when pulling an overheight load. Check your phone when you get stopped, and only when you're stopped.

i am a stickler about reading road signs. If they put a road sign up, it's up for a reason. I read ALL road signs. Truck route. Hazmat route. Speed. Mountain grade. Lane restrictions. Bypass signs.
Yu wouldn't believe the number of drivers who cried and complained about getting ticketed when they had the road construction on i10 around Lake Charles,Louisiana and had signs saying that all trucks had to take the 210 bypass. These guys argued and cried and said that there were no signs. Idiots. Sign reading is Truckin 101.

 

Early one morning in the 1970s, I was sleeping near a consignee in Chicago (to beat the rush hour). I know sleeping on the street is not safe. We had a driver mugged when they sprayed starter fluid into his sleeper vents to get him out. Anyway, someone knocked on my door and I could see a truck stopped alongside, so I got out. You won't believe this. Two Mexican drivers made it all the way from Mexico without being able to speak hardly a word of English. I got my Chicago city map and helped them find a route to their destination which was probably the Water Market. They were either very brave or very stupid.

 

Hey, I'm from Syracuse, lol. Not sure what bridge you're talking about, but it should have been marked before you got up to it as a non truck route or low bridge ahead. You said 12 foot, was it 12'9"? That's 13'9" in NY, they give an extra foot clearance, unless marked as Actual, or according to an above poster, if done in black and white.