School me on oversize loads

Next time you get to one of the bigger truck stops, pick up an Oversize Pilot Car Directory. It will help give you some guidelines to the game.

There are several different permits. A one way, a multi use (either 30-90 day), and an annual. The one way single use permits will normally list all the guidelines on the permit, and the authorized route...etc. the multi use and annual permits may not. So you, the driver, have to dig a bit more in the provisions, double check your planned route for construction...etc.

If there's a reference to a provision sheet, find those provisions, and read and understand the provisions. If the permit states that provisions must be attached to validate the permit, attach the provisions. Failure to do so voids the permit.

Do not slack on your homework. The homework begins BEFORE you load, and before you leave the shipper.

 

Every state is different, you'll have to look it up.

 

Anything wider than 8'6.

You are making it harder than what it is, BTW. You don't need to know all the regs all the time, just the regs for the state you're traveling through when you are traveling through them.

Homework for you. You're in Pensacola, FL picking up a dozer, 9'6wide. Load is going to Garden City, KS. Florida, Bama, Miss, LA, TX, OK, KS. Common OSOW route: 10,Us90,165,65,hwy98,59us49,20,220,20,820,us287, us83.

Which of these states have weekend travel restrictions? Where are the metro curfews? Do any states allow night driving for your load? Will you need a pilot car?

One of the things that you would figure out after a bit iswhere to stop and get OSOW supplies on route. The Oasis truckstop on i10 in Bama. Has a shop, sells big chains, binders, lights, banners, full service restaurant complete with adult beverages, so it would be MJ approved, big parking lot with easy access to the bigroad. It would be wall to wall heavyhaulers at night.

 

That is the NUMBER 1 RULE!, read your permits, every line, every letter then re-read it again. Once you've read it and understand it word for word re-read it a couple more times.

Now you reference your company not giving you the time when it comes to oversize, MAKE TIME, do not get rushed, do not get in a hurry. If they aren't paying enough difference for doing oversize for you to slow down and take the necessary time and still make money then don't take the load, period, end of conversation.

I don't care whether my load is 1" over width or 20' wide and 16' tall I take the same amount of time to review and re-review everything from load security to route planning to permit accuracy and so on.

When your running with yellow solar panels on the front and back your a huge target for everyone from law enforcement to inattentive drivers (truck drivers included). You have to be 100% on your "A" game 100% of the time, there is no setting the cruise and riding along with the flow.

I minor screw up can cost you major dollars and other peoples lives.

 

I've been meaning to ask about oversize load banners. Up in Canada I see guys running the red Canada D signs. Also see guys running normal oversize load signs. Are the normal yellow oversize load banners pretty much universal?

 

Chewy, read your permit

 

^^^^^^^^^^^

Every time you play, you bring that A game. If you don't have the time beforehand, slow down. You don't move unless you got your homework done.

Now, everyone can grab an oversized load. That doesn't mean anything. If the Deskjockeys are signing you up to play football, but they themselves don't know how to play football, you're going to find yourself in trouble. "Go! Go! Go chase miles" isn't going to work. You'll realize real quick that you're playing a team sport without a team and you just keep getting knocked on your arse until they have to carry you off the field. If thats happening either quit playing football or you're going to have to join a real football team. Comprende? Don't get hurt playing pretend football.