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Well I Didn't Need That Today

S

Super H Mike

Member
This morning I was expecting a delivery from a well known shipping company. I was in the shop when I hear a terrible racket outside, looked up to see the delivery truck barreling into my driveway. He was running a tractor trailer with a very tall wind faring on the cab and even taller stack, 30ish foot trailer, looked almost new. He preceded to snap off large branches on my tree lined driveway, and then snagged my overhead electric lines to the barn and outbuildings and tore them all down before he realized something was wrong and stopped. Now before you say it was my fault because the lines were too low, those lines have been there for probably 75 years or more and never happened before. Many , many farm and delivery trucks have been here over the years with no problems. I have moved small buildings in on hay racks pulled by tractors,various elevators ,combines, large loads of hay, feed delivery trucks, etc. The point is the lines were not that low. I think the stack caught it. He also had scratches on the cab and dents in the trailer from my trees. He then tells me its his 3rd incident in a year and will likely be dismissed over this. I can't help but think that might be the best thing. It also busted off my yard light. So I called local electrician and he mended the whole mess for me in timely fashion. Called the delivery company and they say they will cover the damage so that's good news. This was a middle aged regular guy, what was he thinking? Any other time a tractor trailer has been here they have backed into the drive to avoid damage and unloaded on the driveway. BTW the item being delivered was not big enough to warrant the size of the vehicle, and when opened the trailer was pretty much empty. Anyway, I sure didn't need that headache today...
 
(quoted from post at 18:29:37 01/14/19) This morning I was expecting a delivery from a well known shipping company. I was in the shop when I hear a terrible racket outside, looked up to see the delivery truck barreling into my driveway. He was running a tractor trailer with a very tall wind faring on the cab and even taller stack, 30ish foot trailer, looked almost new. He preceded to snap off large branches on my tree lined driveway, and then snagged my overhead electric lines to the barn and outbuildings and tore them all down before he realized something was wrong and stopped. Now before you say it was my fault because the lines were too low, those lines have been there for probably 75 years or more and never happened before. Many , many farm and delivery trucks have been here over the years with no problems. I have moved small buildings in on hay racks pulled by tractors,various elevators ,combines, large loads of hay, feed delivery trucks, etc. The point is the lines were not that low. I think the stack caught it. He also had scratches on the cab and dents in the trailer from my trees. He then tells me its his 3rd incident in a year and will likely be dismissed over this. I can't help but think that might be the best thing. It also busted off my yard light. So I called local electrician and he mended the whole mess for me in timely fashion. Called the delivery company and they say they will cover the damage so that's good news. This was a middle aged regular guy, what was he thinking? Any other time a tractor trailer has been here they have backed into the drive to avoid damage and unloaded on the driveway. BTW the item being delivered was not big enough to warrant the size of the vehicle, and when opened the trailer was pretty much empty. Anyway, I sure didn't need that headache today...
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It always amazes me how careless delivery drivers can be. Some lady delivering a package from Amazon drove right into my mailbox just a couple months ago.
 
For some people, the world revolves around them. They are the center of their universe. Others realize that they are a part of a world much larger than themselves. The sense of awareness in these two types is vastly different.
 
If it was me driving I would be extra cautious at a new place and would have been just creeping along. I guessed his speed at 15 mph coming down my driveway and into the yard.
 
Years ago, I heard engine noise and spinning tires outside. I went out to see and there's a car backing out with a flat tire. It was the dude reading the electric meter. I yelled that he had a flat, said OK and pulled out anyway. Then I looked the other direction and the idiot had driven 30 yards past the house where the meter is and across the yard. I had just spread topsoil and it was real wet. That's when I realized why he drove away on a flat.
 
I just went out and measured for future reference, 13.4 at the lowest point of the droop to the ground, and of course that's right where he went under.
 
I have an over head power line going to my shop that has been there for decades and every once in a while I have some one question it not being high enough and I tell them like it is. This land is private property and being so it is as high as I want it to be and thee is no law that say it has to be higher. If they try to give me gruff I tell them it is also a private driveway so if you don't like it get off my land. By the way those who have complained where trespassing and had no right or reason to be here
 
Hate to throw stones here but my state requires all utility lines to be a certain height electric is like 17 feet. So if it is below that and gets hit it is not the trucks fault as 13.6 is the truck legal height with out permits. WE took one down that Billy bob and bubba strung between two buildings (illegally not to code) They thought they were going to get paid big money but got a big surprise!!
 
(quoted from post at 16:02:21 01/14/19) I have an over head power line going to my shop that has been there for decades and every once in a while I have some one question it not being high enough and I tell them like it is. This land is private property and being so it is as high as I want it to be and thee is no law that say it has to be higher. If they try to give me gruff I tell them it is also a private driveway so if you don't like it get off my land. By the way those who have complained where trespassing and had no right or reason to be here
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Old, if I remember from some pics you have posted, isn't that wire held up by poles every twenty feet or so? Maybe it is time for another pole or two
 
I use to have a maple tree next to my driveway and the limbs were over the drive way. UPS truck made several trips under it over the years with no problem. One day after it rained he came flying up the driveway hit the limbs and found a bald face hornets nest which I did not know was there. They were not happy and he had to go back out. I had him drive thru the field around the tree to get back out. No one got stung but it was fun getting rid of the nest
 
jocco is correct around here it is minimum 15 ft to wires sounds like you have been lucky with good drivers that didn't just bull there way forward because the GPS said so
 
Probably the legal eagles for this shipping company are looking at the same thing. I can't imagine that they are aching to pay a settlement.
 
I wonder if that minimum height applies to private lines on residences ? The guy accepted the blame as he said he was taught to always be aware of his vehicles boundaries and surroundings. Must of forgot the lesson, at least today that is.
 
I thought you said he tore all the wires down-how could you say they were at that height before he ran into them---Tee
 
By eye I actually think the electrician has them lower now than they were...not exact science I give you that. No snow pack on the yard now but I did haul in crushed rock last summer so it was likely as low as it has ever been.
 
Never heard of code like that for on private property. Most wires are not thet tall, I don't think a lot over roads are that high either. Is it just your state?
 
I buried all of my electrical lines, best thing to do. Out of sight and don't have to worry about idiots
 
I work for a LTL company so I could be this delivery driver.

Our company takes this position.
If I hit a tree limb over the road or in a commercial lot it is my fault.
If I hit a wire over the road or in a commercial lot it is the person that put up the wire fault.

We are not allowed in private drives.
You could be 25 feet from the street or 2500 feet it is your obligation to get the freight from the street.

I have hit a few wires that cross the street.
One instance had over 50k in damage.
When the person called the police and tried to get our company to pay for the damage they both told them oh well call the guy that put up the wire.
 
(quoted from post at 20:53:26 01/14/19) then they could just drop your crap on the road , that's what I would do
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Yep, then complain and moan that it was left on the side of the driveway... you can’t win with some people. You order something that comes in a freight truck and have half a$$ed above ground wiring.
 
Didn't you read the fact they where trespassing as in they had zero business of being on my place and I should have called the cops and got them for criminal trespass
 
(quoted from post at 19:24:51 01/14/19) Didn't you read the fact they where trespassing as in they had zero business of being on my place and I should have called the cops and got them for criminal trespass
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Hey young fella, easy there. Did you see anything in my post about the possibility of someone hitting your wires? Let alone anything about who would be at fault if they did. I was just noting that it may need attention so that it it will stay intact.
 
Had that a couple years ago with a line here in the yard. It was probably 12-13 foot and the neighbor was in the yard to do welding on his combine. He was so happy it was fixed he crossed under the line on the wrong side and it came down. No major damage just put it up with a ratchet strap for a couple years so it could be kept higher. Combines sure are not getting any shorter these days. The old shed is now gone and the overhead wires will be gone soon switched to underground before spring. Only one more overhead left on this farm after that.

I believe our code is 17 foot off the ground around here too. Sounds like to me you got off real easy and got notice to trim trees and raise wires for less aggravation next time.
 
Regardless of how low the limbs or power lines were it was the drivers responsibility to know the limits of the truck he was driving. Make em pay for the damages.
 
A guy brought a load of trusses for me. When we got them unloaded, I told him to pull straight through a wide gate into the hay field (recently cut) and make as big of a swing as he needed to turn around. I showed him the electric line to my shop and told him I'd watch to make sure he'd clear it. He must have had six inches of clearance - I stepped off of the running board and he made his circle in the field. I had walked back to the pile of trusses when I heard a racket. On the way out of the field, he caught the line to the shop and pulled it down off of the building. There was a slight incline there, and the only thing I can figure is that incline lowered his rig going in and raised it going out. Kinda like my shop door - I can back the tractor in, but the stack won't clear driving in forward. He was dismayed about tearing down the line and started to give me company info, but I waved him off - I'm the one who talked him into driving through there, and I should have stuck around to help him get back out.

I rented a trencher the next day and buried every line on the place.
 
Under FTA rules all wires over roads are to be 14--16 FT high. If you have a business or a manufacture and get deliveries wires should be 14 to 18 Ft high but not mandated. I drove LTL and stopped out at road when making a residential delivery and most times made them come out to road to pick it up.We couldn't get into most residential driveways (48 and 53 ft. trailers) and were heavy enough to crack most residential drives.
 
(quoted from post at 00:31:32 01/15/19) Under FTA rules all wires over roads are to be 14--16 FT high. If you have a business or a manufacture and get deliveries wires should be 14 to 18 Ft high but not mandated. I drove LTL and stopped out at road when making a residential delivery and most times made them come out to road to pick it up.We couldn't get into most residential driveways (48 and 53 ft. trailers) and were heavy enough to crack most residential drives.
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d beatty, WHAT IS FTA???? this sounds like a YTDOT post. I would read 14 to 16 feet high as meaning that the wires must be no lower than 14 feet and no higher than 16 feet. We all know that high tension transmission lines are required to be much higher whether they are above a road or not.
 
(quoted from post at 23:32:15 01/14/19)
(quoted from post at 18:29:37 01/14/19) This morning I was expecting a delivery from a well known shipping company. I was in the shop when I hear a terrible racket outside, looked up to see the delivery truck barreling into my driveway. He was running a tractor trailer with a very tall wind faring on the cab and even taller stack, 30ish foot trailer, looked almost new. He preceded to snap off large branches on my tree lined driveway, and then snagged my overhead electric lines to the barn and outbuildings and tore them all down before he realized something was wrong and stopped. Now before you say it was my fault because the lines were too low, those lines have been there for probably 75 years or more and never happened before. Many , many farm and delivery trucks have been here over the years with no problems. I have moved small buildings in on hay racks pulled by tractors,various elevators ,combines, large loads of hay, feed delivery trucks, etc. The point is the lines were not that low. I think the stack caught it. He also had scratches on the cab and dents in the trailer from my trees. He then tells me its his 3rd incident in a year and will likely be dismissed over this. I can't help but think that might be the best thing. It also busted off my yard light. So I called local electrician and he mended the whole mess for me in timely fashion. Called the delivery company and they say they will cover the damage so that's good news. This was a middle aged regular guy, what was he thinking? Any other time a tractor trailer has been here they have backed into the drive to avoid damage and unloaded on the driveway. BTW the item being delivered was not big enough to warrant the size of the vehicle, and when opened the trailer was pretty much empty. Anyway, I sure didn't need that headache today...
Click to expand...

It always amazes me how careless delivery drivers can be. Some lady delivering a package from Amazon drove right into my mailbox just a couple months ago.
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I hear you. But at the same time, it's hard to ignore some of the stories delivery drivers tell about the pressures they receive from management to get more miles out of a day. It sounds like this guy needs to find a more suitable line of work.
 
When I had my repair shop I would have the interstate battery guy stop by every so often and when I ordered something. I had told him a few times before if it was snowy to forget about me unless I had an order. If I had an order stay down at the road and I'd come and meet you. I was on a steep driveway. Well this guy thought his battery truck could go anywhere in the snow ! He got stuck half way up the hill and then got all goofed up trying to back down. Dummy me got the loader tractor and proceeded to dig and pull him out. I should of made him call a wrecker and pay for that ! He never even offered to pay my time or give me a battery !
 
The electrician who did the repair would have known our local codes I am sure, he put it all back up about the same way it was, maybe even a touch lower now. In the spring I will be setting a new post on the far end and get that line up to at least 15 foot.
 
Same issue about 5 years back; difference was neighbor trucker was backing off highway into driveway to drop a trailer to be loaded with hay. Never said a thing or contact me that the power from the barn to the house was on the ground. Oh yeah, never paid a dime to fix. I paid $5k. Well worth the $ spent because the power company provided a new transformer at the main line pole for the farm. We don't do business with the neighbor anymore, their choice though.
 
(quoted from post at 06:21:50 01/15/19) FTA: https://www.transit.dot.gov/
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Barnyard, looking at that web site it appears that FTA is a division of DOT having to do with ship, train, and bus transportation but nothing that I can see with trucking except with some planning construction of roads which of course trucks drive on.
 
Why would they have to be that high when the railroad bridges that you drive under are not close to that. US highway I was on today, 4 lanes going same direction. First bridge 14'0" clearance, second 2 mile down the road 13'8" And no signs about a low bridge untill 200' before the bridge so no way to turn around with a tall load. Majer highway in center of city so trucks have to be less than that, I would guess not over 13' to get thru under that railroad bridge so why do wires have to be 17' up.
 

My log cabin and barn were built in 94 and the previous owner ran electric overhead from the barn to two outbuildings. I have an old 1980 GMC gin pole truck that I use to do any heavy lifting that needs done and it would catch those wires. So I ended up taking g them down and burying them in metal conduit. Now my overhead is clear except for trees but as long as I keep them trimmed they are out of the way enough. Saves me a lot of hassle!
 
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