For example, the legal height in Louisiana is 14 feet on designated highways, but 13 feet 6 inches on all other roads. What are “other routes” and “designated roads” and when should drivers pay the most attention to? Looking for a drop-down deck trailer for sale? Do you need service or spare parts for your trailer? Do you have questions about height restrictions? Hale Trailer has a knowledgeable team of representatives at each of our 12 trailer rental locations to assist you with all your trailer needs. Of course, the first thing to do for any operator carrying a heavy load, including heavy high-arm equipment, such as dredging equipment, is to accurately determine the height above the ground for the highest point of the load. Failure to do so can result in costly damage to bridges and possible injury to other drivers, damage to the load and possibly to the truck, as well as fines and damage costs. There`s an old carpenter`s saying: “Measure twice, cut once.” A truck that encounters a viaduct does not receive a “do over”. If you follow the general 13-foot-6-inch guideline, your vehicle may be restricted on certain routes. Always check with national and local authorities before traveling to make sure the maximum height of the trailer is within legal limits. There are also plenty of tools for drivers to help them plan their trip, such as apps and websites that allow you to set a route based on your load level. The transport of bulky goods requires several considerations, one of the most important being the maximum height of the trailer. If you want to buy or lease a commercial trailer, you need to know all the details about the type of trailer that best suits your cargo to make sure you make the right choice.
Oversized loads are probably the most problematic oversized loads, as they require the most planning and preparation. and may be the most costly in terms of fees and costs to ensure the safe transportation of cargo. Planning and executing an overload is both time-consuming and costly, but it costs much less than taking a risk – and failing! A camel is a box, bridge or plate mounted behind the cab and in front of the fifth wheel coupling on the engine frame of a tractor to transport goods (Figures 13 and 14). Semi-trailer tractors produced on 1. December 1982 are subject, during their lifetime, to the same federal length regulations as any other combination of tractor-trailers and semi-trailers. The burden of proof of this legal effect on 1 December 1982 lies with the operator of the installation. Trucks or straight trucks are non-mobile self-propelled commercial vehicles (Figure 15). They are subject to federal weight requirements for the interstate system and federal width requirements for the NN, but not federal length requirements. The regulation of vehicle length remains the responsibility of the States.
In Canadian provinces, the height of the vehicle is 4.15 m. In Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, the height limit is 4.2 m. When it comes to transporting oversized equipment or loads, all states have specific height restrictions. The given load may exceed the specific height, but in order for it to travel on public roads, elevation permits must be obtained. The height of the load is obtained by adding the height of the trailer and that of the load. For example, if the height of a trailer is 5` and the height of a load is 8`6`, the total height is 13.6`. If the total height exceeds the maximum height allowed by the State, special permits are obtained so that on the date of transport, the structures between the origin and destination of the cargo exceeding the height limit are cleared through customs. In this case, they are either lifted to a higher height or removed for the time being. The removal of overhead lines is carried out by permit tea.
It is important to be sure of the date of transport so that all these arrangements are made in advance. Below is a table with height restrictions in different states. Apparently, excess loads are a significant problem on the roads of nations. Some drivers who carry large “overhead” loads do not know what their loads are. In 2015, a truck transported by crane crashed into a highway overpass under construction, throwing several concrete beams onto the highway, killing one driver and injuring others. Signs two miles before the overpass warned of a maximum height of 13 feet, six inches, although the actual clearance height of the bridge was 14 feet. The crane`s highest point was 14 feet five inches. In addition to damage and delays in building the bridge, the driver and trucking company faced illegal death charges from the family of the slain driver.
Every state needs permits for oversized loads. The actual cost of the permit ranges from $15 to several hundred dollars, depending on the state and the size of the cargo. But that`s just the beginning. The actual permit cost is relatively low compared to the cost of highway surveys and other expenses associated with the safe transportation of an excess load. Table 1. Costs that may be incurred when pulling an overhead load. If you are a driver, you always know where to find the height of your trailer. Trailer heights are clearly marked on the edge of the trailers, allowing the driver to easily see the height when approaching potentially dangerous bridges.
The U.S. Department of Transportation does not specify a federal height limit, but there are general guidelines based on state regulations. The maximum total height is between 13 feet 6 inches and 14 feet. There are also other considerations, including special exemptions for roads and bridges with lower ground clearance and various types of trailers to facilitate the movement of goods without a permit. However, a height of up to 4.50 m (14.76 ft.) may be permitted as long as the distance travelled by the vehicle does not present a problem with passage. Once the investigation is complete, the permit may still require a pilot vehicle with a height pole. The height mast is attached to the lead pilot car and protrudes several centimeters from the measured height of the load. If the mast encounters an air obstacle two or three miles before loading, transport can be stopped in time to avoid a harmful collision.
The solution may be to change lanes where there is more distance, or a detour around the low headroom may be necessary. Therefore, states may have unique regulations for road clearance, which may vary depending on the region through which a state highway passes. For example, check out the California State Route elevation clearances for different roads below. They go as low as 13 feet 4 inches and as high as 14 feet. Most highway bridges have a sign that tells drivers the height, but some bridges may have a unique shape that affects that height at the edges. As seen in the photo above, the median deck clearance provides generous space for most trailers, but the edges are well below the average height of 13 feet 6 inches. If the height and load of your low-loader are slightly above the legal limits, consider buying or renting a low-deck trailer. A drop-down deck trailer can be less than 2 feet tall, while a standard flatbed truck is 5 feet. With this difference, larger shipments have ample additional customs clearance, which can prevent additional permits. In the United States, there are no height restrictions for federal vehicles. The next step, once it has been determined that a cargo exceeds the legal height limit, is to apply for an oversized permit from the participating States. The authorisation procedure may require a route study including the measurement of obstacles – bridges, viaducts, signs, supply lines, etc.
along the proposed route. This ensures that the cargo can be transported safely. Or it can show that an alternative route is needed. While this can be time-consuming, it is much better and less expensive than the potential consequences of hitting an overpass or overhead lines. State fee for authorization to transport the load. The price of permits can vary greatly depending on the actual amount and vary greatly from state to state. All states have their legal height restrictions. This is a combined or total height of the trailer and load. A 5` low loader can carry an 8`6″ piece, giving a total height of 13`6″.