Bridge Strikes Are Back in the News — And 18 States Ain’t Havin’ It

by TRUCKERS VA
(UNITED STATES)

🚨 What’s Happening?

An eighteen-state campaign just kicked off to fight one of trucking’s most embarrassing (and expensive) screw-ups — bridge strikes. Yeah, we’re talking about when a truck tries to play limbo with a bridge and loses. Boom. Roof ripped off, load ruined, road shut down, social media shame incoming.

So what’s this campaign doing?

Education + Enforcement + Signs
They’re pushing more signs, running public service announcements, sending inspectors to terminals, and basically telling every driver, “Don’t be the next viral video.”

🌉 Why Bridge Strikes Still Happen in 2025

You’d think with all this GPS, sensors, and common sense, we’d be past this… but nope.

Here’s why it keeps happening:

Drivers using car GPS instead of truck GPS – That shortcut saved you 3 minutes… and cost you $30,000.

Shippers not warning about low-clearance routes – Some of these warehouses are surrounded by sketchy roads. And dispatch don’t care.

New drivers in rental trucks or box trucks – Local gig haulers and hotshots aren’t always trained on height restrictions.

Distractions, bad signage, or overconfidence – “I think I can make it” are famous last words for aluminum trailers.

Let’s keep it 100 — even old pros have had that heart-racing moment where the bridge looks a little too close for comfort.

🛑 What the Campaign’s Doing

The states involved are going all in with:

Billboards and warning signs in high-risk areas

DOT teams inspecting carriers for proper routing tools

Social media ads targeted at drivers

Education partnerships with CDL schools and safety councils

Some are even installing overheight vehicle detection systems that flash a warning when a truck too tall approaches the wrong bridge. (Yes, they’re trying to save drivers from themselves.)

Translation: They’re tired of scraped bridges, destroyed trailers, and shutdown traffic. And honestly, so are we.

🧠 Industry Reactions: Real Talk from the Road

Some drivers say: “It’s about time. If you’re still hitting bridges, you shouldn’t be on the road.”

Others fire back: “Easy to say when you’ve got a dedicated route and perfect signage. Come do some local work in New York or Pennsylvania.”

Small fleet owners say: “We’re all for safety, but will this campaign help us get better routing tools at a lower cost? Or is this just another fine trap?”

And that’s a legit concern. Education is great — but if states just hand out tickets and call it a day, the root problem doesn’t get fixed.

🚚 What You Can Do (So You Don’t End Up on TikTok)

Want to keep your rig, your license, and your dignity? Here’s the no-BS checklist:

Use a real truck GPS.
Not your iPhone. Not Google Maps. Not "my cousin’s directions." Get the right tool.

Know your height.
Seriously — not “I think it’s 13’6” unless you’ve checked the sticker and measured with that reefer unit up top.

Double-check unfamiliar routes.
If it’s your first time in that area, look up low-clearance maps or call the shipper for heads-up.

Watch the signs.
They’re not just decoration — and in most states, they tell you actual clearance, not a suggested one.

Slow down if unsure.
Better to delay delivery than deliver excuses to a claims department.

🧨 Bottom Line

Bridge strikes don’t just make headlines — they ruin weeks. Whether you’re a rookie or a road dog, this campaign is a reminder that one mistake can end your run, or worse. Eighteen states are waking up, and drivers need to do the same.

So before you roll under the next bridge, remember: it ain’t a race, it’s a career.

📢 Call to Action:
Don’t just survive out here — build your off-ramp before burnout hits.

👉 Go to RetireFromTrucking.com — Learn how to earn online and transition out of trucking before your roof gets peeled off by a bridge.
👉 For gear, rookie help, and trucker wisdom, visit LifeAsATrucker.com