No I’ve not hit one with the other! But I’ve wondering about a couple of things.
Why are big containers marked
Caution 9’6" high container
Obviously it’s to make it obvious it’s a tall one, but why is it only marked in imperial and not in metric. Seeing as we have a more generous loading gauge than Europe I can only assume that they travel at less than 4m on a European skelly. Is this so?
And why are petrol station canopies often only marked in metric when we work with imperial heights? Surely putting both heights up clearly would stop confusion and maybe prevent a strike here or there.
8wheels:
No I’ve not hit one with the other! But I’ve wondering about a couple of things.
Why are big containers marked
Caution 9’6" high container
Obviously it’s to make it obvious it’s a tall one, but why is it only marked in imperial and not in metric. Seeing as we have a more generous loading gauge than Europe I can only assume that they travel at less than 4m on a European skelly. Is this so?
And why are petrol station canopies often only marked in metric when we work with imperial heights? Surely putting both heights up clearly would stop confusion and maybe prevent a strike here or there.
Yes, some over here also use ‘low rider’ skelly’s where they have a neck, then drop down to the loading area.
They don’t just have the 9’6" sign, you’ll also see the yellow / back chevrons on the corners.
No idea with fuel stations but also some bridges only have 1 or the other, and some company canopies (Lowry for example) only have 1 or the other. The trailers where I work are only in Metres too
G’won own up, who hit the corner of the “wildbean cafe” sign on the side of the garà ge on the A1 south next to the waywest cafe and peeled the sign back?
Out of curiosity, other than filling up at a motorway service station where they have allocated fueling pumps for HGV’s, if your about town and you get ‘caught short’, are all normal garage forecourts marked up height wise? What do you do if you really need some fuel and you can’t fit under the canopy?
if the height isnt marked on the canopy, I’ve driven in slowly while watching the trailer. Just make sure there is enough room to reverse out if it wont fit !
Only kidding… DO NOT put that to the test with canopies or entrances, it was a joke
To be honest, good planning will stop you having to worry too much about that, but there’s a good few stations with HGV pumps - not always with the easiest access though.
edit
edited to add, I’ve had to drop my trailer before now to fuel the unit - and even then, just reverse in until the top of the unit is near the canopy, then reach with the pump. Advantage of an artic vs a rigid
Only kidding… DO NOT put that to the test with canopies or entrances, it was a joke
To be honest, good planning will stop you having to worry too much about that, but there’s a good few stations with HGV pumps - not always with the easiest access though.
edit
edited to add, I’ve had to drop my trailer before now to fuel the unit - and even then, just reverse in until the top of the unit is near the canopy, then reach with the pump. Advantage of an artic vs a rigid
lol yeah I know about the bridge heights, I’m ■■■■ hot at my theory even if I do say so myself
Just wondered because a while back I saw a unit driving bobtail slowly creeping up to the canopy of the local sainsburys petrol station. Needless to say he scraped the buggery out of it, much to the amusement of the small crowd that was watching
EDIT- should say the unit had a big wind deflector on the top.
The reason containers are marked up 9’6’’ or 8’6’’ is really only for the railways and ships. The railway have to use special trucks, the ships need a level deck to build a stack within their framework.
For the fuel station canopy, the only measurement you need to worry about is that between the bottom of tyres and the roof
Wheel Nut:
The reason containers are marked up 9’6’’ or 8’6’’ is really only for the railways and ships. The railway have to use special trucks, the ships need a level deck to build a stack within their framework.
Ah finally some sense! still odd it’s imperial only though.
In my job I always have different heigh loads, on the odd occasion I do bother to measure it due to knowing there are low brides or an unfamiliar route I measure in imperial. As that’s the rcognised system for the roads it’s strange some canopies omit it.
Wheel Nut:
The reason containers are marked up 9’6’’ or 8’6’’ is really only for the railways and ships. The railway have to use special trucks, the ships need a level deck to build a stack within their framework.
Ah finally some sense! still odd it’s imperial only though.
In my job I always have different heigh loads, on the odd occasion I do bother to measure it due to knowing there are low brides or an unfamiliar route I measure in imperial. As that’s the rcognised system for the roads it’s strange some canopies omit it.
Don’t forget that the USA still uses imperial. You see many containers with the load limits in pounds on the back for the same reason.
