“Storrowings” in Boston: When Box Trucks Meet Their Doom

by TRUCKERS VA
(UNITED STATES)

Intro – The $1 Billion Truck Joke That Ain’t Funny

Every year, Boston watches in horror—and sometimes dark humor—as another rental box truck meets its fate under a too-low bridge. These aren’t just accidents. These are what locals now call "Storrowings"—named after Storrow Drive, the infamous trap road where trucks meet their rooftop doom.

It’s not just a dent and a chuckle. It’s a disaster that’s costing the city over $1 billion annually, from emergency response to bridge repairs to traffic delays. That’s billion with a B, folks.

So why does this keep happening? Let’s break it down like the roof of a U-Haul in a 10’ clearance zone.

How It Happens – GPS, Inexperience, and Ignorance

Here’s the recipe for a good old-fashioned Storrowing:

Step 1: Inexperienced or out-of-town driver rents a box truck.

Step 2: Said driver uses personal GPS, not truck GPS.

Step 3: Truck driver heads down Storrow Drive or Memorial Drive—roads famously banned for trucks.

Step 4: CRUNCH.

Despite warning signs, flashing lights, and even viral videos warning against it, these bridges are still getting clobbered on a regular basis.

Why? Because personal GPS doesn’t account for height clearances, and first-time movers don’t know what they don’t know.

Why It’s a Big Problem – Beyond Just a Wreck

It’s easy to laugh at a roof peeled back like a can of tuna. But here’s the real cost:

Emergency Response: Police, fire, tow trucks—all delayed or diverted.

Traffic Backups: Thousands stuck in delays for hours.

Bridge Damage: Repairing infrastructure ain’t cheap, especially in a city with 100+ year old bridges.

Reputation: Makes Boston look like it’s run by Wile E. Coyote.

It’s become such a spectacle, Boston media outlets and Reddit threads have dedicated pages to “Storrowings” like it’s an annual festival. Only this one leaves bridges broken and budgets bleeding.

Who's Behind the Wheel? – Rental Drivers and Movers

Most of these aren’t CDL drivers. Nope. They’re:

People moving into Boston for college

First-time U-Haul renters

Folks using Penske, Ryder, or Budget trucks for deliveries

These folks aren’t trained to read road signage or calculate clearances. And unfortunately, ignorance + 11' truck + 10’ bridge = disaster.

One official said, “It’s like clockwork. September hits (college move-in), and boom, we get wreck after wreck.” You could set your watch to it.

Solutions? Kinda…

Boston has tried a bunch of stuff:

Flashing signs and warnings – Still ignored.

Social media campaigns – Helpful, but not reaching everyone.

Better mapping – Still a challenge with public GPS apps.

Truck bans – Already in place, but enforcement is tough.

One wild idea? Geo-fencing rental trucks so they can’t enter certain roads. Tech is there. Will they use it?

Bottom Line – The Bridge Always Wins

If you’re in trucking, or even moving your buddy’s couch across Boston, here’s the truth:

Low bridges don’t move. Your truck does.

And the city’s tired of paying for your mistake. The problem ain’t going away until tech, signage, and renter education all get a serious upgrade.

So if you’re renting a truck—use a real truck GPS. Read every sign. And for the love of clearance, stay off Storrow Drive!

🔥 Call to Action

Tired of trucking disasters and costly mistakes? Want to turn your CDL knowledge into online income?

👉 Visit RetireFromTrucking.com
and learn how to make AI and content work for you.
👉 For more trucker tips and survival guides, hit LifeAsATrucker.com

Don’t be the next viral meme.
Know your truck. Know your route. Know your clearance.