One for all you plant hauliers on here, But how on earth would a crane on a low loader hit a motorway bridge? I know what the obvious answer is - and that it was too tall. But given the size of some of the Pallet trailers flying up and down our motorways, one would assume that most bridges on the M6 would take up to say 4.7m. Given that fact, how did that one hit the bridge between J1 and 2 on the M6?
lightning:
one would assume that most bridges on the M6 would take up to say 4.7m
So that’s what that banging sound is when I go along the M6 with my 16’ (4.88m) trailer 
lightning:
…one would assume that most bridges on the M6 would take up to say 4.7m.
One would assume that any unmarked bridge, and therefore every bridge on the M6, would take 5.0m at the very least.
Who said the DCPC wasn’t necessary?
I hope this helps.
i went past it just as hato were turning up,it made a right mess of the oil pipes on the top of the arm,concrete all over the m6 and a red faced ex low loader driver i expect,it couldnt have come far or maybe they had to check all the bridges it had come under,they would have to replace the pipes at the side of the road to lower the arm,very expensive mistake to make,and i suppose a fine and points to go with it,bet it made him jump
Apparently, so I’ve been told, it’s possible for hydraulic booms and arms to pump themselves up as the truck goes along over bumps - bit like a bottle jack - so you set off OK but later…
I’m sure some plant guys on here will know a lot more.
All motorway bridges have a minimum clearance of 16’ 6" to my knowledge and as such are too high for signage.
Socketset:
All motorway bridges have a minimum clearance of 16’ 6" to my knowledge and as such are too high for signage.
Might be the case now, but it hasn’t always been so. Some of the bridges on the M1 in Northants ended up being slightly under 16’ 6" after a couple of decades of resurfacing etc not so long ago.
you might want to ask the driver of this http://www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/Damaged-A180-bridge-demolished-tonight/story-17215708-detail/story.html
philgor:
you might want to ask the driver of this http://www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/Damaged-A180-bridge-demolished-tonight/story-17215708-detail/story.html
kerbloodyching…thats gonna hurt someones pocket.
That (farm) bridge between J1 and 2 M6 has been hit several times judging by the chunks of concrete always missing from the underside and the piece of reinforcing bar sticking out. I know from experience its near enough bang on 16’6’’ after going under with a load of straw and that bloody exposed re-bar ripped the first load strap off 
lightning:
One for all you plant hauliers on here, But how on earth would a crane on a low loader hit a motorway bridge? I know what the obvious answer is - and that it was too tall. But given the size of some of the Pallet trailers flying up and down our motorways, one would assume that most bridges on the M6 would take up to say 4.7m. Given that fact, how did that one hit the bridge between J1 and 2 on the M6?
Is that what happened then? Do you know that or are you guessing■■? I was told a different story. Also, if you are correct, why would they un load the machine? Assumption is the mother of all mistakes. (And it wasn’t a crane, it was a tracked 360)
Rule of thumb is that u load a machine so that when you look at it from the side the boom is the same height as the cab of the machine at times you have to remove bucket ect to attain this. The other thing is experience you talk with other guys and learn about other :tight: places road resurfing ect can make inches difference eg north of corley m6 is another tight bridge i on more than one occasion have moved out into the middle lane for that very reason. On the m42 south of brum when the powers that be decided that it would be a good idea to use the hard shoulder as an extra lane they didnt take into account the bridges taper at the edges thats why when ive got a 11foot wide 50 ton excavator on im always one lane out it was never discussed with the likes of us i mean we are just thick truck drivers wot do we know!
norfolk:
On the m42 south of brum when the powers that be decided that it would be a good idea to use the hard shoulder as an extra lane they didnt take into account the bridges taper at the edges thats why when ive got a 11foot wide 50 ton excavator on im always one lane out it was never discussed with the likes of us i mean we are just thick truck drivers wot do we know!
The loads move around a lot on that stretch too making a street furniture strike easier. I always stay in “lane 1” when I’m wide or high much to other drivers disgust 
Socketset:
All motorway bridges have a minimum clearance of 16’ 6" to my knowledge and as such are too high for signage.
I was wondering about that once: all over central scotland matrix signs display info “M9 bridges 4.9 metres, check your height” and if I understand well this barbaric units of yours 
4.9 is less than 16’6"… But there is no sign in front of this bridges… So what if I join M9 from somewhere that has no matrix signs and I am 4,95 m high?
in that case if your new to the game you cringe at every bridge if not turn u p the radio and hope for the best!
I’ve never had a machine pressurise the rams in transit, usually they lose pressure through scoring on the rams trickling a drop of oil past the seals if they are going to move.
All bridges under 16’6" are marked but the unmarked bridges vary a lot, could be that all of the other bridges that load passed underneath were noticeably higher, It only became obvious when it hit the lowest of the ‘high’ unmarked bridges.
norfolk:
in that case if your new to the game you cringe at every bridge if not turn u p the radio and hope for the best!
Its one of them things upto 12 months ago the bridge that joins the m6 to the m1 had a weight limit of 50 tons on it and had for many years if i was heading south i was supposed to come off at juc 1 m6 head back across to lutterworth on the m1 rejoin and head south . even mt cos depending on which trailor i had i was56ton mt thats how it is there are moterway bridges country wide a couple of which are only rated 48 tons!
norfolk:
Its one of them things upto 12 months ago the bridge that joins the m6 to the m1 had a weight limit of 50 tons on it and had for many years if i was heading south i was supposed to come off at juc 1 m6 head back across to lutterworth on the m1 rejoin and head south . even mt cos depending on which trailor i had i was56ton mt thats how it is there are moterway bridges country wide a couple of which are only rated 48 tons!
which isn’t a problem for most because the majority of trucks are 44t or less. Must be a ■■■■■ for you guys though.
And yes,it’s 16’6" because we run 12 16’4"ish double deckers up the M6 every night with no problems.
Im not bein funny but ive seen you lads with the doubledeckers go under some of the motorway bridges and jesus at times a good bounce and >>>>.Many years ago a good workmate of mine hit a low bridge with a loaded container he came round a corner on a road he wasnt familier with the warning signs had fallen down he hit it at 50mph in a f88 killed him outright flattened the cab to the floor moved the bridge 4 inches over30yrs ago still smarts.
Socketset:
Apparently, so I’ve been told, it’s possible for hydraulic booms and arms to pump themselves up as the truck goes along over bumps - bit like a bottle jack - so you set off OK but later…
that is a myth mate 