Truck Dispatchers and Drivers Plan Routes with Bridge Clearances in Mind

The West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT) has launched its “Check Your Height, Know It’s Right” campaign, to raise awareness about the dangers of low-clearance bridges. Too often, commercial drivers in trucks, box trucks, or delivery vans aren’t fully aware of height restrictions along their routes, leading to accidents known as “bridge strikes.” These incidents can cause serious safety risks for everyone on the road, as well as expensive vehicle damage, critical infrastructure repairs, and traffic jams.

Commercial Vehicle Bridge Strikes

Despite clear signage, crash data show that many commercial vehicle operators either overlook or underestimate the height of their vehicles, especially when driving leased or unfamiliar trucks for deliveries or moves. Navigation apps alone can’t always guarantee safe passage, as they may not account for all bridge heights and road restrictions. As a result, a truck that stands 12 or 13 feet tall may unexpectedly encounter a much lower overpass, resulting in disaster for both the vehicle and public safety.

Truck Dispatcher Role

Truck dispatchers are responsible for planning and managing truck routes. They use the best routing software and their expertise to create smart routes. These routes should minimize time, reduce delays, and comply with regulations. While drivers ultimately follow the routes, dispatchers coordinate, optimize, and monitor those routes to ensure timely and safe deliveries, acting like the “air traffic controllers” of trucking operations.

Truck Routing

This is where the best route planner app becomes essential for professional and commercial drivers. MyRouteOnline’s Drive Planner is designed with truck routing in mind, ensuring that generated routes adhere to legal and safe roadways for tall vehicles. The platform helps drivers and fleet managers avoid low-clearance bridges, providing peace of mind whether you’re behind the wheel of a moving truck, delivery van, or freight vehicle. With its easy-to-use interface, even drivers unfamiliar with their truck’s exact specifications can confidently create compliant, safe routes.
As WVDOT and the Eastern Transportation Coalition join forces to make roads safer, every delivery and transport professional is encouraged to take advantage of advanced routing tools, because knowing your height and your route can make all the difference.

To use Truck Routes with MyRouteOnline Driver Planner, go to Travel Mode under Goals tab and change the default Driving mode to Truck.
Stay safe: Know your vehicle. Plan your route. Respect every bridge clearance.