From: m35products (m35prod@optonline.net)
Date: Fri Nov 19 2004 - 17:22:55 PST
Sonny, whoever told you that was kidding with you. All overpasses on NY
highways (and I suspect, in other states) capable of handling commercial
traffic are posted with a number that is, in fact, up to a foot lower that
the actual clearance, to give drivers a bit of a break if they have figured
their height wrong.
HOWEVER, there are roads within the NYC and Long Island area that are named
"Parkways" and these are part of a system of highways originally designed by
a racist lunatic named Robert Moses. (As an adventure in reading, you might
want to read up on his exploits. He was a con-man who was at one time
considered the most powerful man in NY State, and was not elected or
appointed. He just "was".)
The parkways were originally designed to allow ONLY passenger cars to travel
on them. NO buses or trucks. The feeling was that the parks and beaches on
Long Island that the parkways served were to be enjoyed only by middle class
and higher class people from NY City who could afford a car. Those low class
stiffs who could only afford a bus ride were excluded by Moses. The parkway
clearances under the arched overpasses are significantly lower than "real"
highways. (Sometimes as low as 11 feet in the middle lane and 8 feet at the
edges) In NY, the difference is "Expressway" vs "Parkway" and truck
drivers, especially, must be alert to the difference.
As a rescue truck crew member, working for the NYC police, I often
encountered semi drivers, stopped abruptly in front of these low overpasses,
without a clue as to how they got there (not paying attention to warning
signs) and no clue as to how to go back and try some other route. That
always resulted in hours-long tie-ups as the truck needed to be backed-up
the ON ramp, often a mile back. On several occasions, we would encounter a
truck wedged under a bridge, with cargo spread over the road. One night, it
was frozen duck. All the drivers of the cars going the other way had duck
for dinner. There were thousands of them as far as the eye could see.
Another time it was watermelon. "Slippery, but Yummy".
apb
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sonny Heath" <sonny@defuniak.com>
To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>; "m35products"
<m35prod@optonline.net>
Sent: Friday, November 19, 2004 7:57 PM
Subject: Re: [MV] Highway truck scales
> It tickled me a few years ago as I entered New York and saw that the
> clearances posted for bridges, etc was much less that what I could get
under
> with the rig that I had so I got on my radio and asked what was going on
> with the markings on so and so highway. A driver answered and said "pay
no
> attention to the clearances, the idiots in New York measure from the hub
of
> the vehicle to post the clearances, keep on trucking, you'll clear it
fine"
> Since then I have had a different frame of mind on anything originating in
> New York. No personal offense to anyone of course.
>
> Sonny
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "m35products" <m35prod@optonline.net>
> To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
> Sent: Friday, November 19, 2004 6:33 PM
> Subject: Re: [MV] Highway truck scales
>
>
> > You are correct (at least in the Serene People's Socialist State of
> > Clintonia.) NY State V&T law talks about the "weight as stated on the
> > manufacturer's original bill of sale" as a reference to what's the
correct
> > weight of something being registered. Interestingly, the registered
weight
> > is not typed on the registration document that is stuck to the
windshield.
> A
> > LEO must ask to see the "other" registration document, which is also
> > required to be carried. Royal Pain in the Ass, in my humble opinion.
apb
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "GOTaM35" <GOTaM35@joetrapp.com>
> > To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
> > Sent: Friday, November 19, 2004 7:27 PM
> > Subject: Re: [MV] Highway truck scales
> >
> >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Bjorn Brandstedt" <super_deuce@hotmail.com>
> > > >
> > > > A new question now emerges: What is the "real" GVWR for the deuce.
> > > >
> > >
> > > My truck weighs about 14,000 pounds empty. The tag on the dash (it
was
> > put
> > > there by the manufacturer) states the capacity of the truck is 2.5
tons
> > off
> > > road and 5 tons on the highway. That means the factory's, which is
all
> > that
> > > maters in these cases, indicated my truck has a potential gross weight
> of
> > > 24,000 pounds loaded.
> > >
> > > Laws change, but a few years ago the manufacturers rating is all that
> > > mattered. We found out the hard way that buying a truck rated at over
> > > 26,000 meant only a CDL driver could operate even if you tagged it for
> > less
> > > than 26,000. I think we have the paid ticket to prove it :-)
> > >
> > > Joe Trapp
> > >
> > > And yes, I have forgotten more than I remember.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
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> > > To switch to the DIGEST mode, send e-mail to
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> >
> >
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>
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