The enforcement effort was part of the “Check Your Height, Know It’s Right” campaign, which took place at the end of July along the New York State Thruway. According to the New York State Police, the initiative combined driver education with targeted enforcement to prevent bridge and overpass strikes involving commercial motor vehicles.

Nearly 350 Commercial Vehicles Inspected

During the campaign, Troop T’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit conducted 348 commercial vehicle inspections across the state.

Inspectors placed 126 commercial vehicles out of service after identifying safety-related violations that prohibited the vehicles from continuing operation until the issues were corrected.

In total, troopers documented 966 violations during the enforcement effort.

Enforcement Included Traffic and Equipment Violations

The New York State Police also issued 189 uniform traffic tickets covering a range of offenses, including speeding, seat belt and restraint violations, cellphone use while driving, registration issues and licensing violations.

Troopers identified five over-height commercial vehicles during the campaign, one of the enforcement priorities tied directly to the initiative.

Bridge Strikes Remain a Safety Concern

According to the New York State Police, more than 375 bridge strikes have been recorded on the New York State Thruway over the past five years. Officials noted that recent bridge strikes in both downstate New York and Western New York highlight the importance of knowing a vehicle’s height before beginning a trip and selecting routes that avoid low-clearance structures.

The Thruway Authority reminds commercial drivers that the maximum legal vehicle height on the New York State Thruway is 13 feet, 6 inches. Vehicles exceeding that height must obtain the appropriate permit before traveling on the system.

The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real-world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.

Last Updated: August 17, 2026

Source: The Trucker

Image Source: NYSP

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Governor Kathy Hochul announced a coordinated education and enforcement campaign designed to remind commercial drivers to verify their vehicle height, follow posted clearance signs, and use commercial navigation tools before traveling. The initiative comes after the New York State Department of Transportation recorded 310 bridge strikes in 2025.

More Than 300 Bridge Strikes Reported Last Year

According to the New York State Department of Transportation, most bridge strikes involved commercial vehicles, or large trucks, whose drivers either did not know their vehicle’s height or failed to follow warning signs before approaching a low-clearance structure.

Beyond damaging bridges and vehicles, these crashes can disrupt traffic, delay freight movement, and require costly repairs to transportation infrastructure.

Awareness Campaign Continues to Grow

The “Check Your Height, Know It’s Right!” campaign launched in November 2023 as a public awareness initiative focused on preventing bridge strikes before they happen.

Since then, New York has partnered with The Eastern Transportation Coalition and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials to expand the campaign nationally. What began with participation from 16 states has grown to include 26 states and Washington, D.C.

This year’s awareness campaign runs from July 27 through July 31 and focuses on educating drivers about the importance of knowing their vehicle height before starting a trip.

Enforcement Remains Part of the Initiative

Education is being paired with increased enforcement throughout the campaign.

New York State Police are conducting targeted patrols in areas where bridge strikes have occurred, while electronic message boards across the state are displaying reminders encouraging drivers to check their vehicle height before traveling.

The state also strengthened penalties earlier this year by implementing an eight-point traffic violation for drivers who strike a bridge.

Commercial GPS Can Help Prevent Bridge Strikes

State officials continue encouraging commercial drivers to rely on truck-specific navigation instead of consumer GPS applications.

Unlike standard navigation apps, commercial routing systems account for low-clearance bridges, weight restrictions, and roadways where commercial vehicles are prohibited. Drivers can also use the Trucker Mode feature available through the 511NY website to identify restricted routes and verify their trip before leaving.

Officials also reminded drivers operating rented box trucks to pay close attention to vehicle height, noting that many bridge strikes involve drivers who are unfamiliar with the dimensions of larger vehicles.

The Trucking Association of New York said proper route planning, knowing a vehicle’s height, and using commercial-grade navigation tools remain some of the most effective ways to prevent bridge strikes and protect both drivers and critical transportation infrastructure.

The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real-world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.

Last Updated: July 31, 2026

Source: Truckers News

Image Source: NY State DOT

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Hitting a low bridge isn’t just a frustrating mistake — it can cost you your equipment, your time, and sometimes your job. That’s why the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has launched a new campaign aimed squarely at helping drivers avoid it in the first place.

It’s called “Check Your Height, Know It’s Right,” and it’s PennDOT’s latest push to raise awareness about the risks of bridge strikes, especially for truckers and anyone hauling taller loads.

Real Stats, Real Damage

Between 2013 and 2023, there were more than 600 reported bridge strikes in Pennsylvania alone, according to PennDOT. That’s not just a few busted signs — it means mangled trailers, damaged infrastructure, traffic backups, and sometimes serious injury.

“When a vehicle hits a bridge, the impact can shut down a road, damage expensive freight, and even put emergency crews at risk,” the agency warns.

Who They’re Talking To

This campaign isn’t just for big rigs. It targets:

• CDL holders
• Non-CDL drivers in leased or rented trucks
• Delivery truck drivers
• RV drivers
• Movers using box trucks

Anyone behind the wheel of a tall vehicle.

One of the campaign’s key messages? Just because it’s not your truck doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. It’s your job to know how tall that vehicle is — and whether it’ll clear the bridge ahead.

Know Your Numbers

Let’s break it down. In Pennsylvania:

• If your vehicle or load is over 13’6″, you need a Special Hauling Permit.
• Bridges under 14’6″ are required to have low-clearance signage both at the structure and before it.

But here’s the kicker — GPS apps often don’t consider height. So if you’re trusting Google Maps to keep your truck out of trouble, you could be setting yourself up for a wreck.

“Drivers should always watch for and adhere to signage indicating bridge heights and not rely solely on navigation devices,” PennDOT reminds.

And if you’re hauling equipment with raised beds, those count too. The campaign emphasizes double-checking liftgate positions, equipment arms, and anything that might extend your height — even temporarily.

Long-Term Fixes Underway

PennDOT isn’t just pointing fingers at drivers. The department says it’s also working to help on its end by raising bridges where possible.

“In the past decade, more than 160 bridges with clearances under 16 feet, 5 inches were raised by at least 3 inches during reconstruction,” the agency noted.

That helps, but it doesn’t change this bottom-line fact: it’s your responsibility to know your height and plan your route accordingly.

One Simple Check Can Save Your Job

For drivers who’ve seen what a bridge strike can do — the bent trailers, sheared-off roofs, and long insurance headaches — this message hits home. Just a quick check of your truck height before rolling out can save a world of hurt.

So the next time you hop into a new cab, get behind the wheel of a rental, or load up a tall piece of equipment, take a second and ask yourself: Will it clear?

Because “I didn’t know” won’t fly when you’re stuck under a bridge.

Source: Transport Topics

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Results of the Enforcement Campaign

Carried out in collaboration with the New York State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit, the campaign spanned October through December. Over the course of 30 separate enforcement operations conducted throughout various regions of the Thruway, authorities issued 7,301 violations, including 31 citations for over-height vehicles.

Here’s a detailed summary of the fourth quarter outcomes:

• Commercial vehicle inspections conducted: 3,767

• Vehicles taken out of service: 997

• Tickets issued: 7,301

These inspections were held statewide, across all four Thruway Authority Maintenance Divisions.

Frank G. Hoare, Executive Director of the Thruway Authority, commented on the importance of this effort, stating, “Bridge hits on the Thruway system are a safety issue and can cause considerable damage to our infrastructure resulting in countless delays for motorists and the diverting of critical resources from highway maintenance and upkeep. The law requires drivers to know the height of their vehicle to mitigate these avoidable incidents and with the increasing number of trucks on the roads, it’s incumbent upon drivers to be vigilant to keep traffic moving.”

A Persistent Infrastructure Challenge

Since 2020, 231 bridge strikes have been recorded across the Thruway, with 56 incidents reported in 2024 alone. One notable event occurred on August 31, 2023, when an over-height tractor-trailer collided with the South Broadway overpass in South Nyack. Following the impact, southbound lanes on I-87/I-287 were closed for approximately 15 hours on September 9, 2023, to remove two damaged girders and stabilize the structure.

The Most Frequently Hit Bridges

Records show that certain bridges experience repeated collisions by over-height vehicles. The top three most affected structures on the New York State Thruway are:

1. Middle Black Brook Road Bridge (Seneca County, I-90, Milepost 318.57)

• Total hits since 2020: 31

• Hits since 2023: 16

1. North Grand Island Bridge Northbound (Niagara County, I-190)

• Total hits since 2020: 23

• Hits in 2024 alone: 8

1. South Broadway Overpass (Rockland County, I-87, Milepost 16.44)

• Total hits since 2020: 14

• Hits in 2024 alone: 3

Know the Rules on Vehicle Height

New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law specifies that the maximum height for vehicles, including any load, must not exceed 13 feet, 6 inches. For vehicles exceeding this height, operators must apply for a Special Hauling Permit to travel on the Thruway.

Source: Truckers News

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