Drivers' Corner - Caring in Action

Archives

Have you gotten caught by a low underpass? I picked up a load of wooden pallets in Garrison, TX early in the morning and was traveling back to Houston with the intent of getting unloaded that day.

The pallets were stacked 20 high, which I knew would be near the limit of 13'6", but I wanted to get as many as I could and the bill of laden just looked better with 400 pallets as opposed to 380.

As I approached the underpass, south of Shepherd, TX on US 59, I knew that it would be close. I slowed to a crawl and eased under the underpass. About halfway, I saw a chain moving. I had gone as far as I could and would have to back out.

With my flashers working, I began to back out. A 4-wheeler, not realizing what I was doing, barely missed my trailer and skidded sideways, but the driver managed to gain control going through the underpass.

After stopping and surveying that he did not have any damage, he started toward me. He was a big man about 6' 4" and 250 pounds. I figured that I had no control over what was coming, so I would do what I had to do. Turned out he was a local minister and only wanted to know if I was hurt. He must have loved fried chicken and banana pudding.

From that day forward, the difference in 20 pallets took on a new meaning for me. This could have been avoided by following a few simple procedures:

1. Check the height of your load and your trailer during your pre-trip inspection or after loading
2. Understand that 13'6" is not 13'7" or 13'8"; it is 13' 6". The height stated on the underpass clearance sign does not have an automatic buffer zone
3. If you are close and you cannot change your load or trailer, then find an alternate route. I had to travel an extra 75 miles and did not get unloaded

That's the way I see it - Bob Hataway - Trans Alive.

Bob Hataway is president of TransAlive USA, an organization of 100,000 volunteers across America dedicated to serving drivers and their families in the transportation industry through their Caring in Action=Safety Program. They cover every zip code in the United States and move quickly to meet the needs of the drivers and their families when they experience an accident, illness, heart attack or even death on the highway. Call 800-USA-HURT for assistance.