# 11 foot 8 -- The end of an era **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 3, 2019, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/11-foot-8-the-end-of-an-era/842953 "2019-11-03T14:03:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2019, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/11-foot-8-the-end-of-an-era/842953/21 "2019-11-04T15:55:48Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > This was probably one of the most satisfying and spectacular examples: [https://youtu.be/TvxDhgDjVCA](https://youtu.be/TvxDhgDjVCA) > It happened just earlier this year. We won’t be seeing too many more of these, alas. And that is not some rental truck, but a real 18 wheeler. That driver should know better. Especially considering there is a giant light up sign saying “over-height must turn” directly in front of it. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2019, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/11-foot-8-the-end-of-an-era/842953/22 "2019-11-04T20:27:02Z")
I wonder how much revenue John’s Towing will lose due to the bridge being raised. If you watch enough of these videos you notice that it’s always John’s Towing that shows up to pull out the trucks that get stuck. I suspect they might be the only towing company in the area equipped to handle big trucks. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2019, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/11-foot-8-the-end-of-an-era/842953/23 "2019-11-04T20:45:39Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > I wonder how much revenue John’s Towing will lose due to the bridge being raised. If you watch enough of these videos you notice that it’s always John’s Towing that shows up to pull out the trucks that get stuck. I suspect they might be the only towing company in the area equipped to handle big trucks. And that has to be a very expensive pull! That bridge probably put John’s kids through college! ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2019, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/11-foot-8-the-end-of-an-era/842953/24 "2019-11-04T20:55:12Z")
Wonder how long before the bridge grabs another truck? It’s still not a full height clearance. But this extra 8 inches will allow more trucks to safely get under it. John’s Towing will still get some work. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/11-foot-8-the-end-of-an-era/842953/25 "2019-11-05T11:13:59Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > What nasty little brother? Linky-linky! Oh sorry, EVIL little brother. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3-UugI0JoA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3-UugI0JoA) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/11-foot-8-the-end-of-an-era/842953/26 "2019-11-05T11:25:11Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > I wonder how much revenue John’s Towing will lose due to the bridge being raised. If you watch enough of these videos you notice that it’s always John’s Towing that shows up to pull out the trucks that get stuck. I suspect they might be the only towing company in the area equipped to handle big trucks. What a position to be in! John could pretty much charge whatever he wants, right? ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/11-foot-8-the-end-of-an-era/842953/27 "2019-11-05T12:06:13Z")
I wonder at what point the drivers realized there were having a bad day, exactly where between contact & coming to a complete stop. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/11-foot-8-the-end-of-an-era/842953/28 "2019-11-05T12:10:05Z")
We have our own underheight bridge here, appropriately it’s locally called the subway. At the subway a road that used to be a farm road connects with US 11 on the other side of the bridge. What’s happened over the years is that the farm road has been subject to industrial development and large warehouses have been built a few miles up the road. The trucks are supposed to turn the other way and get on either US 11 or Interstate 81, but some of the drivers use their phone apps made for cars and that tells them the shorter route is under the bridge. They then ignore the warning signs and CRUNCH. And, of course, the same thing happens in reverse when they’re going to the warehouses. All they have to do is use the roads that were specifically upgraded for their purposes. Alas, you can’t fix stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/11-foot-8-the-end-of-an-era/842953/29 "2019-11-05T12:30:17Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I’m not sure which are the best: > > The ones where the top gets peeled back like a sardine can? Bonus if it hangs from the beam! > The ones where the truck does a wheelie as it stops? > The ones where the truck is just theeeeesssse much too tall, and it looks like only the paint comes off? > Or the air conditioners being removed from campers slicker than scum off a Louisiana swamp? The air conditioners being removed from campers. If you are driving a straight truck or a semi, you know you’ve hit the bridge. The bridge stops you, or you hear the sound, or both. But the camper drivers–they don’t seem to hear it at all! Especially the pickups pulling a fifth-wheel camper–the lose their AC, but they just keep on going. I found myself wondering what they would do that night when they arrived at a campground. “Hey, it’s hot. Turn on the AC.” "I did, but it doesn’t seem to be working. “Lemme get up there.” Two minutes later: “Holy @#$%^&, there’s no AC unit! Where did we lose that?” ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/11-foot-8-the-end-of-an-era/842953/30 "2019-11-05T17:25:22Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > Oh sorry, EVIL little brother. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3-UugI0JoA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3-UugI0JoA) I love how so many of those box trucks just fall apart, but what’s with the cars? They had not trouble with clearance, they just … swerved out of lane for no apparent reason. ETA: I love how most of the trucks just come to pieces, and how some of them try to sneak up on the bridge and think they can get under if by moving just far enough into the oncoming traffic lane. I also note that quite a few cars approaching the bridge seem to have trouble staying in their own lane, but that’s nothing to do with the clearance issue. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/11-foot-8-the-end-of-an-era/842953/31 "2019-11-05T17:45:00Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > what’s with the cars? They had not trouble with clearance, they just … swerved out of lane for no apparent reason. The drivers apparently don’t notice that the road also _narrows_ where it passes under the bridge, are driving into the curb at normal traffic speed, and bouncing off of it and into the other lane. It may help if the city painted that curb yellow, or if they just eliminated the sidewalk under the bridge, although the latter option would be problematic for pedestrians. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/11-foot-8-the-end-of-an-era/842953/32 "2019-11-05T20:34:00Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > All they have to do is use the roads that were specifically upgraded for their purposes. Alas, you can’t fix stupid. The roads may be upgraded but not all of the maps are. Last year I took a Dodge (now Mercedes) Sprinter, towing a trailer to/from New England. The way _I_ go in my car is over some of parkways. However, NY State Parkways don’t allow commercial vehicles/are cars only. Not only do they not have a lot of clearance but the design of many of the bridges means the arch/curvature has significantly less clearance in the right lane than the left lane. Given what I was driving, I should be in the right lane most of the trip. No way, un-unh! I went to two RV stores looking for a low-height atlas/mapping program & was basically told to go to a truck store & buy a specialized Garmin, which was way more than I wanted to spend for one trip. I _tried_ to spend a few bucks toward this end & couldn’t When the traffic backed up on the interstate, I was stuck there because both Google Maps & Waze were trying to route me towards a parkway & I Just. Wouldn’t. Do. It. I’d rather get there late than can-opener someone else’s vehicle. My passenger wasn’t happy but tough $#!t; I was the one responsible for the van. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/11-foot-8-the-end-of-an-era/842953/33 "2019-11-05T21:15:55Z")
The [truck-eating railroad bridges](https://qctimes.com/news/local/q-c-truck-eating-bridges-gobble-up-another-victim/collection_0b1b72cc-4fd7-11e0-b650-001cc4c03286.html) of Davenport, Iowa have gained quite a following (one has its own Facebook page). The bridge at 5th and Brady Street wasn’t even safe for small vehicles to travel under. When I lived there a train going over the bridge derailed and a couple of cars plummeted to the road below. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/11-foot-8-the-end-of-an-era/842953/34 "2019-11-06T01:43:21Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > The [truck-eating railroad bridges](https://qctimes.com/news/local/q-c-truck-eating-bridges-gobble-up-another-victim/collection_0b1b72cc-4fd7-11e0-b650-001cc4c03286.html) of Davenport, Iowa have gained quite a following (one has its own Facebook page). > [@](#): > > The truck eating bridge strikes again on Harrison Street. The recycling container appears to have stuck the dismount. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bootis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@Bootis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootis)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/11-foot-8-the-end-of-an-era/842953/35 "2019-11-06T04:41:38Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > The drivers apparently don’t notice that the road also _narrows_ where it passes under the bridge, are driving into the curb at normal traffic speed, and bouncing off of it and into the other lane. > > It may help if the city painted that curb yellow, or if they just eliminated the sidewalk under the bridge, although the latter option would be problematic for pedestrians. Yeah, and it looks like a pretty sudden narrowing, the wider road has a sharp bend so that someone not focused would hit the curb. I don’t know why they don’t install some sort of more gradual narrowing, brightly marked barrier thing, those cars popping into oncoming traffic like that will kill someone eventually if it hasn’t already, or as you mentioned at the very least paint the curb there yellow [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/11-foot-8-the-end-of-an-era/842953.md?page=1)