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When it comes to epic rivalries, forget superheroes and villains. Specifically, in the world of trucking, bridges are a rival, and they’re definitely a big hazard. In fact, reports claim that in the past two years, trucks have run into 25 bridges just in Ohio alone! These kinds of collisions, known as “can opening”, can cause a whole string of problems. Injuries may occur, traffic gets held up, deliveries run late, trucks get damaged, etc. Therefore, if you’re a trucker, it’s definitely in your best interest to learn how to navigate around bridges safely. Fortunately, there are all kinds of resources out there to help truckers with this common problem. Read on to learn more about how to literally navigate around this issue.

Eliminating Driver Error

It’s not fun to admit this. However, the vast majority of cases where a truck driver hits a bridge, are often caused by driver error.

As you are probably aware, truck drivers need to obtain a CDL before ever driving a large truck. Therefore, this should in theory reduce the amount of potential accidents associated with driving large trucks. It more than likely has. However, there are still instances of trucks running into bridges.

So what’s the problem? There are more than a few reasons why an otherwise good driver might hit a bridge. Maybe they didn’t get enough sleep the night before, or they’re driving a different type of truck than they are used to. These explanations are valid, and hopefully can be addressed ahead of time to avoid accidents in the future from ever happening in the first place.

For instance, if you aren’t getting enough sleep on the road, you should bring this up with your dispatcher as well as your healthcare provider. Furthermore, if you’re driving a new type of vehicle, advocate for some extra time to get used to the cab and the controls.