APPENDIX J

NCHRP08-139 Bridge and Tunnel Vehicle Strikes (BrTS) Assessment Survey Questionnaire (Motor Carriers)

Part I: About You

1. Organization/Firm
2. Person Preparing (optional)
3. Please describe your roles and responsibilities related to permitting and load securement.
4. Please provide your general comments on bridge/tunnel strikes.
5. Date Prepared
6. Contact Information including Email and Telephone Number (optional)

Part II: General BrTS Questions

7. Do you consider bridge strikes to be a major problem in your day-to-day operations?
   1. Yes
   2. No
8. If you answered no, please explain
9. Has your firm experienced bridge strikes?
   1. Yes
   2. No
10. Are all BrTS recorded, documented, or reported to state authorities?
    1. Yes
    2. No
11. Which of the following is an accurate description of your knowledge related to BrTS?
    1. I know where the frequently struck bridges are for my company (e.g., high-risk bridges) if any
    2. I know where some frequently struck bridges are; but new locations emerge
    3. I have limited knowledge of the whereabouts of the most frequent bridge hits, but it is easy to find them from our prior records
    4. I have limited knowledge of the whereabouts of bridges we have struck, and it is difficult to find where they are due to the lack of data
12. We are particularly interested in countermeasures for OHV hits. What do you, as an industry representative, perceive as the primary cause of OHV bridge strikes? Please select 1 (less likely), 2 (somewhat likely), or 3 (very likely) for each.
    1. Unpermitted OHV or other over-dimensional loads
    2. Permitted drivers off authorized roadways
    3. Driver’s lack of knowledge on their height of cargo

1. Driver did not properly measure the height of their cargo
2. Improperly loaded equipment on truck trailers (e.g., irregular-sized cargo such as construction vehicles, wind turbines, equipment extending above vehicles)
3. Pilot or escort vehicle operator error
4. Load shifts and/or equipment failures (e.g., bed raises, boom raises) during the transport
5. Driver’s lack of recognizing or understanding low bridge warning signs
6. Driver’s reliance on non-commercial GPS that have no height restriction information
7. Driver does not have a detour option or ignores the detour
8. Use of an improper lane at the bridge (e.g., arch or truss) where vertical clearances vary by lane
9. Inadequate warning at or near bridges with low clearance
10. Change in pavement elevation due to weather conditions such as snow
11. Change in pavement elevation due to pavement projects (e.g., resurfacing)
12. Other (please specify)
13. Do your drivers always know the height of their cargo?
    1. Yes
    2. No
14. Are your drivers aware of any legal consequences associated with tunnel and bridge strikes?
    1. Yes
    2. No
15. Do you keep enforcement records on overheight violations?
    1. Yes
    2. No
    3. Do not know
16. Do you have statistics on vehicle/cargo height violations?
    1. Yes
    2. No
    3. I don’t know
17. Where would your drivers find roadway restrictions especially the height restriction along the route if a permit is not required?
    1. DOT webpage such as 511 where lane-by-lane vertical clearance of a bridge can be found on an interactive online map
    2. DOT webpage such as 511 where only minimum vertical clearance of a bridge can be found on an interactive online map
    3. DOT webpage where lane-by-lane vertical clearance of a bridge can be downloaded/printed
    4. DOT webpage where only minimum vertical clearance of a bridge can be downloaded/printed
    5. Maps and atlases
    6. Others (please specify)
18. Are your drivers aware of the protocol for reporting in cases of a bridge or tunnel strike?
    1. Yes
    2. No
19. Please describe the protocol you follow for reporting in case of a bridge or tunnel strike

Part III: In Cab and Other Detection

20. Do you provide any in-cab detection or bridge hit prevention warning systems for drivers?
    1. Yes
    2. No
21. Does your company have any plans to install early warning over height vehicle detection systems in cabins?
    1. Yes
    2. No
22. If no, please explain.
23. If installed, does the “In Cab Detection System” work independently, or does it require a wifi/cellular internet connection?
    1. Works independently
    2. Requires a wifi or cellular connection
    3. Other (please specify)
24. Are your regular routes pre-determined to avoid known low-clearance bridges?
    1. Yes
    2. No
25. Does your company use any GPS-based Vehicle Crash Prevention System with low-clearance bridge information?
    1. Yes (please mention which ones)
    2. No
26. Are you aware of FHWA’s Pilot Car usage requirements?
    1. Yes
    2. No
27. Do you do preliminary runs prior to moving loads with a pilot car?
    1. Yes
    2. No
    3. It depends (please explain)

Part IV: Communications and Stakeholders

28. How do you communicate with state permitting and enforcement agencies? Do you sit on any advisory committees or panels? If so, please describe.
29. Do you participate in any joint committees/conferences/discussions with other haulers?
30. Do you know which states under-report the height posted on their signs?

Thank you! We value your feedback! Upon completion of the study, it will be our pleasure to share the outcome of the study with you. Please provide your contact information if you would like a copy of the final product.