Safety First 28: Trip Planning

Safety First · Lesson 28 of 30 · Non-Driving Activities
Free safety education based on the federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) theory curriculum. This is not certified ELDT training and does not count toward a CDL.

The twenty-eighth unit of the federal Class A theory curriculum is Trip Planning. It covers planning a safe route before you drive: clearances, restricted routes, permits, size and weight limits, rest stops, and the use of GPS.

What this unit covers

Under 49 CFR Part 380, Appendix A, this unit addresses the importance of, and requirements for, planning routes and trips. It covers planning the safest route, planning for rest stops and heavy traffic areas, railroad-highway grade crossing safe clearance and ground clearance ("high center"), the importance of Federal and State requirements on the need for permits, and vehicle size and weight limitations. It also covers correctly identifying restricted routes, the pros and cons of GPS and trip routing software, and the importance of selecting fuel-efficient routes.

1. Plan before you drive

• CDL manuals say to review maps and plan your route before you begin driving.
• Where you may drive a large vehicle varies from place to place. CDL manuals say to know the rules where you will be driving.
• The federal curriculum covers planning for rest stops and heavy traffic areas, and the importance of selecting fuel-efficient routes. Lesson 23 covers the hours-of-service limits.

2. Overhead clearance

• CDL manuals say to make sure you always have overhead clearance, and not to assume that the heights posted at bridges and overpasses are correct. Re-paving or packed snow may have reduced the clearance since the height was posted.
• The weight of a cargo van changes its height. An empty van is higher than a loaded one, so getting under a bridge when you were loaded does not mean you can do it when you are empty.
• Warnings are often posted on low bridges or underpasses, but sometimes they are not. If you are not sure you can make it, take another route.
• As covered in Lesson 01, there is no federal height limit. Height limits are set by each state.

3. Ground clearance and railroad crossings

• CDL manuals warn that the space under a vehicle can be very small when it is heavily loaded. This is often a problem on dirt roads and in unpaved yards, and drainage channels across roads can cause the ends of some vehicles to drag.
• Railroad tracks can cause problems, particularly when pulling trailers with low underneath clearance. Do not take a chance on getting hung up halfway across.
• Lesson 17 covers railroad crossings, including how steep approaches and raised crossings can make low-slung units hang up on the tracks.

4. Size, weight, and permits

• As covered in Lesson 01, federal law sets the main weight limits on the Interstate System, including 80,000 pounds gross vehicle weight and the Federal Bridge Formula, and generally limits vehicle width to 102 inches on the National Network.
• CDL manuals say you must keep weights within legal limits, and that States set maximums for gross vehicle weights, gross combination weights, and axle weights.
• Over-length, over-width, and/or overweight loads require special transit permits. Driving with them is usually limited to certain times, and such loads may require a police escort or pilot vehicles.
• During your inspection, CDL manuals say to check for all required papers, trip manifests, and permits.

5. GPS and trip routing software

FMCSA's GPS selection guide for commercial vehicles gives this advice:

• Use the right device. Select a GPS navigation system intended for use by professional truck and bus drivers. A system that does not account for route restrictions, such as low bridge overpasses, can turn a shortcut into a much more expensive trip.
• Enter your vehicle information before you begin your trip, such as your vehicle's length, width, and height, axle weights, and any hazardous materials you are carrying.
• Signs come first. Obey traffic signs and advisories, especially if they show restrictions the navigation system did not warn you about.
• Keep maps current. Not all GPS systems update their maps automatically.
• Do not enter information while driving. Avoid typing or entering addresses or information into the GPS while driving. Lesson 10 covers distracted driving.

Quick check

1. Can you trust the height posted at a bridge or overpass? (Answer: not always; re-paving or packed snow may have reduced the clearance since it was posted.)
2. Is an empty van higher or lower than a loaded one? (Answer: higher.)
3. If a traffic sign shows a restriction your GPS did not warn you about, which do you follow? (Answer: the traffic sign.)

Find every Safety First lesson under DRIVE.

This lesson is general education, not legal advice. Size, weight, permit, and route rules vary by State and change over time, so check the rules for every State on your route and follow your carrier's procedures. Drivers getting their first Class A or Class B CDL, upgrading from Class B to Class A, or getting a hazardous materials, passenger, or school bus endorsement for the first time must, with limited exceptions, complete entry-level driver training from a provider listed on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry.

Sources

• 49 CFR Part 380, Appendix A: Class A CDL Training Curriculum
• FMCSA: Global Positioning Systems (GPS) Selection Guide for CMVs
• New York State Commercial Driver's Manual (CDL-10, 11/25), Section 2: Driving Safely (2.1.5, 2.7.4 Space Overhead, 2.7.5 Space Below, 2.9.1)
• New York State Commercial Driver's Manual (CDL-10, 11/25), Section 3: Transporting Cargo Safely (3.2.2 Legal Weight Limits, 3.4.4 Oversized Loads)
• Your state's commercial driver license manual (wording and section numbers may differ by state)

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