eagerbeaver:
Good point valve. There are other circumstances also; You may have your mid lift axle up if running empty.
Also, a recently re surfaced road may have an effect.
I was talking to a Crouch tow truck bloke and he had one where the trailer was under the bridge height but still struck the bridge. They measured the ride height and the bridge height and there was no way it should have struck the bridge. Then a train went over and the weight of the train lowered the bridge. The truck must’ve gone under the bridge at the exact moment a train went over.
mrginge:
My lorry is 13’11" empty after measuring many times to make sure. There is a 14" bridge near a yard I go to and I rather take a 3min detour to avoid it then find out it doesn’t fit
When I got my new lorry (8-legger rigid with Moffatt on back) the height indicator in the cab was set at 12’ 5". Parked it next to my oppo’s, his looked slightly lower and his height indicator was 12’ 6". Now mine’s a Premium sleeper cab, his is a day cab with a top fairing so it might have just been an optical illusion, but given that we do most of our work in rural areas where restricted heights are more common, I measured it to be certain; and sure enough mine turned out to be same height as his. Only an inch of difference; but it could have been very embarrassing had I taken it for granted.
There’s less clearance under bridges which don’t have a pavement running alongside the road beneath because the bridge height is measured from the pavement if there is, and the road surface if there isn’t. Don’t ask me how I know this.
Harry Monk:
There’s less clearance under bridges which don’t have a pavement running alongside the road beneath because the bridge height is measured from the pavement if there is, and the road surface if there isn’t. Don’t ask me how I know this.
eagerbeaver:
Good point valve. There are other circumstances also; You may have your mid lift axle up if running empty.
Also, a recently re surfaced road may have an effect.
I was talking to a Crouch tow truck bloke and he had one where the trailer was under the bridge height but still struck the bridge. They measured the ride height and the bridge height and there was no way it should have struck the bridge. Then a train went over and the weight of the train lowered the bridge. The truck must’ve gone under the bridge at the exact moment a train went over.
If that’s true it must have only been a ■■■ paper off it in the first place. Yes there would be a deflection but so bloody slight as to be un-noticeable to the naked eye. Furthermore, the horizontal deflection should be allowed for in the calculation when the bridge is measured in the first place.
I was showing a night route to a new driver once. We were on a narrow country road, there was a lowish arched railway bridge with an awkward bend. He asked me if the lorry would fit under it. I said yes but give it the beans, then if you do hit it you should still get out the other side. I knew it did fit really but a few nights later he did hit it because he failed to get lined up for it. I felt a bit responsible, even though at the time he had given me a bit of a lecture on how he always erred on the side of caution.
Just seen a double deck trailer go under the bridge on HolderNess road in Hull, I think it’s 15’6". I was coming the other way and was ready to dive for cover, must only have had an inch or two spare. Bloke didn’t even slow down.
