Low Cables, Bridges and Gate Heights: Clearance Checks for Loaded Trucks

The wardrobe is strapped on top of the load, the estate road is narrow, and a cable hangs across it a little lower than it should. The driver who guesses wrong pulls down the cable, scratches the wardrobe and sometimes ends the job on the spot. Height is the one dimension drivers forget, because they check width at the gate and then look straight ahead.

This guide is about measuring and judging height before the truck moves, not after something has snapped.

Know your real loaded height

Your truck's height is not the height of the cab. It is the highest point of the load, measured from the ground. A wardrobe laid flat on a pickup bed, a mattress stack and a ladder on the roof all push that number up.

Before the first job of the week, measure it and write it on a card or in your phone. Then check it after every load that goes above the cab line. A strip of tape inside the cab with the number written on it works for many drivers.

Look up before you turn in

At the pickup street, stop at the entrance and look up, not only ahead.

• Low electricity or cable lines across the road
• Overhanging branches and fruit trees
• Gate arches, awnings and signboards
• Pedestrian bridges, flyover edges and old underpasses
• Shop canopies that stick out over the road

A line that looks high from the cab can be lower than the top of your load. If you are not sure, get out and judge it from the ground, or ask the customer's helper to stand and look from the side.

Ask the customer before you arrive

Ask the customer about the compound when you phone before pickup. Is there a gate? How high is it? Are there trees or cables on the approach? Is there a covered carport? A customer will not always know the answer, but they can send a photo or a video, which saves a surprise at the gate. Our checklist on calling the customer before pickup has more questions worth asking.

Lower the load, not the standard

If the load is too tall for the approach, lower it before trying anything clever.

1. Take the tall pieces off the top and carry them in by hand.
2. Lay wardrobes and cupboards flat where possible.
3. Re-strap everything after you rearrange.
4. If the line is still too low, park on the main road and carry the items in, then agree extra time with the customer.

Never push a line up with a pole or a plank unless it is clearly safe to do so. Some cables carry electricity, and a wet day makes that worse. If a line comes down, stay in the cab, keep everyone back and wait for help.

Overhanging branches and mirrors

Branches rarely cause big damage, but they scratch paint, tear tarpaulins and knock decor off the top. Ask a helper to guide you under the tree with a hand signal, as in reversing into a tight compound.

Bridges and low passages on the route

Before a longer trip, think about where you will pass. Foot bridges, old arches and market roadways with canopies are the usual trouble spots. If you do not know the route well, ask other drivers or choose a road you know has no low point. A slightly longer road beats a stuck truck.

After a scrape or a strike

If something touches the load or the truck, stop, check the load and tell the customer honestly. Photograph anything damaged straight away, as set out in photographing the load at pickup and drop-off. A clear record is better for everyone than a story that changes later.

How this fits with Sphere jobs

On Sphere, customers describe their load and the pickup and drop-off before drivers make offers. A driver who asks about access, gates and height before sending an offer gets a more accurate job and avoids last-minute changes. You can also mention in your offer what you need from the customer, for example "please confirm the gate is wide and high enough for a truck". New drivers can read about getting approved as a Sphere driver and driving for Sphere.