Hauling Over Height Question

The problem with running that high is the first detour you come upon due to road construction or whatever. My limit is 14'. Many years ago people told me "you can run 14' no problem in TX" Well I was going up 287 to CO and had to detour around 2 different bridges. If you run high you just better know where you are going and remember that trees are normally 13'6" thanks to the dry vans keeping them trimmed

 

But at least in states like Texas that have higher legal heights, anything under statutory height is listed in the atlas so you can be aware of them. Running high in 13'6" states, you're pretty well on your own, as far as the book helping you.

And the viaduct at Dalhart is a pain in the ### to go around, at least legally. Most of the north-south FM roads around there have the lighter weight limits on them.

 

Will your company exonerate you when the inevitable happens and you hit something due to being over height?
Being new to Carhaul and running long distance in excess of 14' is a recipe for problems. Running local/shortline out of a railhead and running up and down the eastern seaboard over height are 2 different situations.
Depending on where I was going I wouldn't hesitate to go out of the yard 14'6" on a local load. However 1000 plus miles over legal height whether it be 13'-6" or 14' in the western states can be extremely problematic.

Hope this helps you.

 

New York with it's legend of mis marked bridge heights is actually a 14 foot state. Iowa also allows 14 feet for car haulers. Nashville has some bridges lower than 14 feet on I 65 south. My main problem was the low hanging branches. I used to marvel on loads leaving auctions and rail yards up to 15 feet, mostly at night. Also seen loads sticking 8 feet over the front with quad door pickups, also at night. I don't haul cars anymore, but still keep looking up for low branches when traveling through urban areas.

 

Parts of Michigan at 13'9 on the Interstate will make your load convertibles! So will parts of Cincy and Nashville at 14'. What happens when the interstate is closed and each unit on top gets thumped by a tree limb? If you aren't familiar with the entire route and low overpasses I would never take a load at 14'2, but you need to do what makes you comfortable. You go the wrong way thru Memphis on the Interstate at 13'7 and you may top units. My point is 1000 miles not being 100% sure of the bridge heights at 14'2 is a recipe for disaster in my opinion.

 

Many states won't issue OD permits for a divisable load. It's leave one, or run big. Or learn how to load better for some!

 

Why I said for some. A new guy will be a least a couple inches higher on a consistent basis than someone who knows what they are doing. Carhauler vs guy hauling cars.

 

You say you have tried everything to get the height down, have you tried letting some air out of the tires of the vehicle that is too high, or the one below it? I have done that a few times when they wouldn't let me on the turnpike. You would be amazed how much you gain by letting half the air out of a few tires and 2 inches would be very easy to do.I say 2 inches because you shouldn't have any trouble at 14 feet but always do your homework. Welcome to car hauling.