When you're unsure about clearance over 13 feet, stop and check before you go.

Stop and Check: The Simple Move That Keeps You Safe

Here’s a quick what-if you’ll thank yourself for later: you’re rolling along in a big rig, over 13 feet tall, and you spot a bridge or overpass with a height sign that makes you pause. What should you do if you’re not sure the clearance is high enough? The answer is straightforward, and it’s something you can put into action in the next three minutes of your shift: stop and check the clearance.

Why stopping beats guessing

In any situation where a clearance could bite you, speed is not your friend. If you guess and keep going, you risk a contact that could damage the vehicle, the bridge, or both. It’s not just about a dent or a tire; there’s real danger to you, your cargo, and other motorists. On the other hand, stopping to verify height is a small moment with a big payoff. It directly addresses the uncertainty, gives you a solid data point, and buys you time to decide your next move safely.

The common sense behind the right choice

Let me explain it this way: your vehicle has a known height, usually listed on the truck’s spec sheet and often echoed in the cab. The clearance sign, meanwhile, is a fixed number for that structure. If those numbers don’t align in your mind—or if you’re unsure—assessing the scene calmly is the smarter move. Asking another driver may be well-meaning, but the exact clearance for your rig is not something you can rely on someone else to know definitively. Measuring with a stick or any improvised tool—well, that can create a risk in traffic or under a tight timed situation. So the simplest, safest choice is to stop, look, and verify.

How to stop and verify like a pro

If you find yourself uncertain about a clearance, here’s a straightforward, practical sequence you can use right away:

• Slide to a safe stopping point

• Look for a turnout, shoulder, or cross street where you can pull over without blocking traffic. You don’t want to jam the lane or force other drivers to navigate around you.

• Read the clearance sign carefully

• Look up at the overpass or bridge. Signage usually lists height in feet and inches, for example, 13'6". Sometimes there are multiple signs—one for the approach and another overhead. Take a moment to confirm you’re reading the right one for your route.

• Compare with your vehicle height

• Recall your vehicle’s height from the most recent spec sheet or the cab’s height tag. If the truck has any tall equipment or load in place, factor that in as well. If your height is equal to or greater than the available clearance, you have a clear no-go.

• If you’re not confident, don’t push it

• It’s perfectly fine to reroute or turn around. Use a route guidance app designed for trucks if you have one. These tools often flag low-clearance routes and offer safer alternatives.

• When in doubt, call for guidance

• If you’re out with a dispatcher or on a complicated route, a quick call or text to confirm the best alternative can save everyone headaches down the road. Dispatch teams understand this scenario and can help you plot a safe detour.

Why not the other options

• A. Continue driving at the same speed

• Speed reduces your reaction time and increases the risk of a miscalculation turning into a collision. It’s not a smart way to handle uncertainty.

• C. Ask another driver for advice

• A friendly check-in with a nearby driver is fine for a quick sanity check, but it’s no substitute for knowing your own vehicle height and the actual clearance. Relying on someone else’s information can lead you astray.

• D. Measure the clearance with a stick

• It sounds practical, but in practice it isn’t reliable or safe in traffic. It’s easy to misread or misplace the measuring tool, and doing so in the travel lane can create a hazard for others.

A few practical notes you can tuck into memory

• Pre-trip planning helps

• If you’re about to start a route that runs through urban canyons, low-clearance bridges, or older tunnels, check height restrictions ahead of time. Use your route planner, a trusted map, or a fleet system to flag potential chokepoints before you get there.

• Keep height info at your fingertips

• Your truck’s height is a fixed number. You should know it by heart or have it easily accessible in your notes. If you’re unsure of the exact figure, pull over to confirm rather than guessing.

• Signs aren’t optional

• Clearance signs exist for a reason. They’re not decorative; they are a warning. Treat them as part of your overall safety checklist.

• A calm mindset matters

• When you encounter a questionable clearance, slow down, breathe, and assess. A calm, methodical approach reduces the chance of a rash decision.

Stories from the road where height mattered

Over the years, drivers have shared plenty of near-misses that came down to height awareness. One driver recalled a bridge in a town he’d passed dozens of times before; the sign looked familiar, but a new load raised the rig by a few inches. He stopped, checked the sign, and rerouted with a calm plan. Another driver trusted a spotter who happened to be there, and the pair found a viable bypass that saved them from a potentially expensive, time-consuming setback. These aren’t flashy moments; they’re quiet demonstrations of sound judgment, the kind that keeps fleets moving and keeps everyone on the road safer.

A quick mindset shift you can carry forward

The rule is simple in theory: stop and check the clearance when you’re unsure. The realization to apply this consistently is what separates cautious drivers from those who learn their lessons the hard way. It’s not about being conservative for the sake of it; it’s about using your best information to make the safest choice. Height awareness isn’t just a rule—it’s a guardrail for your career and for the people sharing the road with you.

Putting it into a bigger routine

When you’re behind the wheel day after day, small habits compound. Make clearance checks part of a larger habit loop:

• Before each route, skim for low-clearance hazards on the map.

• On approach to a known potential choke point, dial back speed and visually confirm the sign and your height.

• If there’s any doubt, stop, verify, and plan a safe detour if needed.

• Share learnings with your team. If you notice a sign or route that caused a moment of uncertainty, note it down so the next driver can benefit.

A closing thought: safety pays off in real ways

We don’t live in a fantasy where every obstacle can be avoided, but we can stack the odds in our favor with simple, repeatable actions. Stopping to check clearance when you’re unsure isn’t a sign of hesitation; it’s a sign of responsibility. It protects your vehicle, your cargo, and the other drivers sharing the road. And that, more than anything, makes the long haul feel a little less stressful.

If you’re cruising through a landscape of bridges and overpasses, remember this: a quick stop is not a detour from progress—it’s a smart, proactive step toward steady miles and safer travels. Next time you spot a height sign that makes you pause, you’ll already know exactly what to do. Stop, check, decide, and move forward with confidence.