I had the idea, that when transporting such enormous loads, the moving company had to plan the route, get a permit, and be approved for the size of the load to be able to fit under, and drive over bridges and overpasses, all with facts about the size and weight of the oversized load being moved
All DOTs required all haulers to obtain permits for all Oversize and Super/Mega loads traveling on public roads. The Oversize permits are usually just for a shipment that has oversized dimensions and these are usually pretty routine, but it is haulers responsibility to confirm what they are hauling will fit sometimes using a tall pole on the front bumper of the lead pilot car. A large Super/Mega load is a costly nightmare to permit. The permit may require the load to slow down to 10 MPH while crossing a bridge to reduce live load impact. The DOT may require the hauler to provide an engineering analysis of certain bridges and a pre/post inspection of the bridge may also be required.
ReplyDeleteWhile in the Marine Corps, I deployed to Norway twice, 1998-1999. Twice we (the Marines) managed to destroy the same overpass while offloading ships with equipment. There are two lanes going under the overpass, the outside lane that is too low (and well marked as such), and hte inside lane that has the clearance. In 1998, an LVS with a flatbed trailer carrying a 10 TRAM forklift took the outside land and buried that 10K Tram 3 feet into the overpass totalling the overpass, the LVS, and the TRAM. 1999, same overpass, an LVS with a very expensive 20ft communications van on the back....this time it only partially destroyed the over pass but peeled back the top of that communications container like a sardine can! Again, totalled the LVS, trailer, and the van!
ReplyDeletemy son is a heavy haul driver, routinely hauling overwidth and over weight loads, they are required to request a permit from each state they are planning on traveling through, the trucking company tells the state the dimensions and weight of the load, and where its going, and the states issue a permit that specifies an exact route.
ReplyDeletea superload like this one, should have had pilot cars front and rear and if its taller than 15'6" the front pilot car must have a height pole thats set 6" taller than the load, so the pole will strike any overpass or wires that the cargo could hit.
if the trucking company sent in accurate height measurements, and obtained a permit, and were on the permitted route, then the trucking company is not responsible for the damage to the bridge,(just like the call before you dig permit requirements) although they will be responsible for the damage to the cargo.