Hitting a low bridge isn’t just a frustrating mistake — it can cost you your equipment, your time, and sometimes your job. That’s why the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has launched a new campaign aimed squarely at helping drivers avoid it in the first place.

It’s called “Check Your Height, Know It’s Right,” and it’s PennDOT’s latest push to raise awareness about the risks of bridge strikes, especially for truckers and anyone hauling taller loads.

Real Stats, Real Damage

Between 2013 and 2023, there were more than 600 reported bridge strikes in Pennsylvania alone, according to PennDOT. That’s not just a few busted signs — it means mangled trailers, damaged infrastructure, traffic backups, and sometimes serious injury.

“When a vehicle hits a bridge, the impact can shut down a road, damage expensive freight, and even put emergency crews at risk,” the agency warns.

Who They’re Talking To

This campaign isn’t just for big rigs. It targets:

• CDL holders
• Non-CDL drivers in leased or rented trucks
• Delivery truck drivers
• RV drivers
• Movers using box trucks

Anyone behind the wheel of a tall vehicle.

One of the campaign’s key messages? Just because it’s not your truck doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. It’s your job to know how tall that vehicle is — and whether it’ll clear the bridge ahead.

Know Your Numbers

Let’s break it down. In Pennsylvania:

• If your vehicle or load is over 13’6″, you need a Special Hauling Permit.
• Bridges under 14’6″ are required to have low-clearance signage both at the structure and before it.

But here’s the kicker — GPS apps often don’t consider height. So if you’re trusting Google Maps to keep your truck out of trouble, you could be setting yourself up for a wreck.

“Drivers should always watch for and adhere to signage indicating bridge heights and not rely solely on navigation devices,” PennDOT reminds.

And if you’re hauling equipment with raised beds, those count too. The campaign emphasizes double-checking liftgate positions, equipment arms, and anything that might extend your height — even temporarily.

Long-Term Fixes Underway

PennDOT isn’t just pointing fingers at drivers. The department says it’s also working to help on its end by raising bridges where possible.

“In the past decade, more than 160 bridges with clearances under 16 feet, 5 inches were raised by at least 3 inches during reconstruction,” the agency noted.

That helps, but it doesn’t change this bottom-line fact: it’s your responsibility to know your height and plan your route accordingly.

One Simple Check Can Save Your Job

For drivers who’ve seen what a bridge strike can do — the bent trailers, sheared-off roofs, and long insurance headaches — this message hits home. Just a quick check of your truck height before rolling out can save a world of hurt.

So the next time you hop into a new cab, get behind the wheel of a rental, or load up a tall piece of equipment, take a second and ask yourself: Will it clear?

Because “I didn’t know” won’t fly when you’re stuck under a bridge.

Source: Transport Topics

The post Don’t Guess Your Clearance appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Results of the Enforcement Campaign

Carried out in collaboration with the New York State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit, the campaign spanned October through December. Over the course of 30 separate enforcement operations conducted throughout various regions of the Thruway, authorities issued 7,301 violations, including 31 citations for over-height vehicles.

Here’s a detailed summary of the fourth quarter outcomes:

• Commercial vehicle inspections conducted: 3,767

• Vehicles taken out of service: 997

• Tickets issued: 7,301

These inspections were held statewide, across all four Thruway Authority Maintenance Divisions.

Frank G. Hoare, Executive Director of the Thruway Authority, commented on the importance of this effort, stating, “Bridge hits on the Thruway system are a safety issue and can cause considerable damage to our infrastructure resulting in countless delays for motorists and the diverting of critical resources from highway maintenance and upkeep. The law requires drivers to know the height of their vehicle to mitigate these avoidable incidents and with the increasing number of trucks on the roads, it’s incumbent upon drivers to be vigilant to keep traffic moving.”

A Persistent Infrastructure Challenge

Since 2020, 231 bridge strikes have been recorded across the Thruway, with 56 incidents reported in 2024 alone. One notable event occurred on August 31, 2023, when an over-height tractor-trailer collided with the South Broadway overpass in South Nyack. Following the impact, southbound lanes on I-87/I-287 were closed for approximately 15 hours on September 9, 2023, to remove two damaged girders and stabilize the structure.

The Most Frequently Hit Bridges

Records show that certain bridges experience repeated collisions by over-height vehicles. The top three most affected structures on the New York State Thruway are:

1. Middle Black Brook Road Bridge (Seneca County, I-90, Milepost 318.57)

• Total hits since 2020: 31

• Hits since 2023: 16

1. North Grand Island Bridge Northbound (Niagara County, I-190)

• Total hits since 2020: 23

• Hits in 2024 alone: 8

1. South Broadway Overpass (Rockland County, I-87, Milepost 16.44)

• Total hits since 2020: 14

• Hits in 2024 alone: 3

Know the Rules on Vehicle Height

New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law specifies that the maximum height for vehicles, including any load, must not exceed 13 feet, 6 inches. For vehicles exceeding this height, operators must apply for a Special Hauling Permit to travel on the Thruway.

Source: Truckers News

The post Crackdown on Over-Height Trucks Along New York State Thruway appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.