I think this bridge story is good for new drivers.

Apostolic · #1 (**permalink**) 02-07-2008, 11:44 AM

Low bridge, tall trucks: tin-can alley - The Boston Globe

Road Atlas's are very good at pointing you in the right direction when your not from the area you are deivering to.

I haven't seen one of these books of maps in a long time,but I don't think they offer overhead clearance's on the roads listed.

We had two bridges in Rochester just one mile from my UPS Freight terminal that had claimed nearly 100 trailers over the 50 some years they were standing there.
finally the city got the bright idea to cut down the road surface.
So insted of these two bridges being 11.6,they now are 14' which gives any trailer plenty of room to get under them.

These two bridges are for trains so you know there wouldn't be any damage to them when some poor driver destroyed his companys trailer on them.

So if the trucking companies in the area of this bridge would write to this town maybe they could get that road surface cut down to allow trucks to go under it?

More than likely the town will say just go around.

pro1driver · #2 (**permalink**) 02-07-2008, 04:41 PM

"But private, out-of-town haulers - called "gypsies" in the trucking industry "

i never liked that term, "gypsies".............it cheapens the whole profession.

i too have been through many towns in massachusettes that have low R/R bridges. there was one in particualr, i don't think its this one however, in which you go "round the block", and you STILL go under that R/R bridge, but its higher at the other end. going back, you "go round the block" again, and you're on your way.

if i can remember where that place was i used to go to, i'll post it here.

pro1driver · #3 (**permalink**) 02-07-2008, 04:51 PM

i found it......!!

believe it or not, i saved many of my directions on "index cards', and they were in my "attic".

the places i used to go to were,

Old Colony Paper &

Strathmore Paper

both in Westfield Massachusetts.......(not what this original thread says THIS bridge is at)

and that's where we had to "go round the block" and under that same R/R bridge.......to avoid topping the trailers.

Strathmore Paper was on S. Broad St past Old Colony Paper.........i "think" Old Colony Paper was also on S. Broad st, as we had to turn into the driveway off the street. anyone else been there can verify this.

i just did some googling, and google earth, seems Old Colony Paper isn't there anymore.....but, Strathmore may have bought them out, as the google search alludes to.

Apostolic · #4 (**permalink**) 02-07-2008, 05:04 PM

I'm just a city driver,but I've always kept a note book with important information regarding my route.
I have the times my customers close,lunch breaks,and phone numbers of a lot of them so if I'm running late I can call and ask them to wait for me.

I've been on the same route going on 8 years,and this note book has come in mighty handy a lot of times.

grocery thrower · #5 (**permalink**) 02-07-2008, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apostolic

I'm just a city driver,but I've always kept a note book with important information regarding my route.
I have the times my customers close,lunch breaks,and phone numbers of a lot of them so if I'm running late I can call and ask them to wait for me.

I've been on the same route going on 8 years,and this note book has come in mighty handy a lot of times.

8 years gear jammer? Wow, I bet your customers don't like it at all when you take off, thats usually how it goes, they get used to the same driver, plus your most likely friends with many of them. I know I have made some friends out of my customers.

Ignore the hijack, I just wanted to tell you that Apostolic, 8 years on the same route is impressive.

Apostolic · #6 (**permalink**) 02-07-2008, 11:21 PM

Thats nothing I'm number two on our city list.
The number one driver will have 22 years on his route by the end of May this year.

but you are right when I come back to my route after taking time off.
All of my customers say they really missed me,because I'm the only one who knows how to take care of them.
they really hate it that I'm going to retire in a few weeks.
Some tell me never to retire,they are really going to miss the good service I give them,as well as always joking around with them,and making them feel good.

Oh well the old saying all good things must come to an end sometime.

I will miss some of them,and others I won't miss because they are to demanding.

I won't miss working for UPS.
If we were still Overnite I would of worked untill I was carried out in a box,but UPS is a different story I can't wait to get away from their rat race.