Written by the FleetEasy Team
Serving Spokane and Washington State with One-Call Fleet Services
In a city like Spokane, tight clearances, railroad bridges, and busy downtown routes can create serious problems for commercial drivers. If you miss the sign showing clearance restrictions, you’re going to get stuck!
Recently, the FleetEasy recovery team responded to an emergency call involving a 26-foot box truck wedged underneath the Post Street railroad bridge.
It’s the kind of situation that can shut down traffic, damage vehicles and equipment, and leave drivers stressed and unsure of what to do next. No worries, FleetEasy came to the rescue and performed a heavy-duty recovery to save the day.
Box Truck Stuck Under the Post Street Railroad Bridge
Pro-Tow by FleetEasy was dispatched to the Post Street railroad bridge after a Freightliner M2106 box truck became stuck underneath the overpass. The truck had entered the bridge but was too tall to clear it, leaving the top of the vehicle jammed beneath the structure.
Situations like this happen more often than people think, especially with rental trucks, delivery vehicles, and drivers unfamiliar with Spokane routes. Even a few inches can make the difference between clearing a bridge and becoming completely immobilized.
When the FleetEasy operator arrived, the first priority was assessing the safest way to free the truck without causing additional damage to the vehicle or the bridge.
The Heavy-Duty Recovery Process
To reduce the overall vehicle height, the operator carefully let the air out of all six tires. This lowered the truck enough to begin the recovery process safely. Unfortunately, releasing the air was not enough to free this truck. We needed to winch it out.
Using two yellow 8-foot recovery straps connected to the front hooks of the Freightliner M2106, the operator then ran both winch cables in single-line pulls to gently guide the vehicle backward.
After approximately 5 feet of controlled pulling, the truck freed itself and continued moving under its own power. Once the vehicle was safely out from under the bridge, the operator re-inflated all six tires back to 110 PSI, completed the final safety checks, collected payment, and cleared the scene.
The entire process required careful judgment, proper recovery procedures, and controlled towing techniques to avoid worsening the situation. Sure, the top of the box trailer was likely scratched up, but this driver avoided structural damage, and the truck could continue on its way.
Experience, Equipment and Fast Response
Not every towing company is equipped to handle commercial vehicle recoveries. Incidents involving box trucks, semis, delivery vehicles, and heavy-duty equipment require specialized knowledge and equipment.
At FleetEasy, our operators handle everything from:
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- Bridge strikes like this one
- Jackknifed semis
- Loaded trailer recoveries
- Rollovers
- Off-road recoveries
- Emergency roadside towing
- Heavy-duty winching and recovery
When a truck gets stuck under a bridge or is involved in an accident, fast response times help reduce road closures, minimize downtime, and prevent additional damage. That’s why businesses throughout Spokane trust FleetEasy for heavy-duty and emergency towing services.
Emergency Towing in Spokane When You Need It Most
FleetEasy provides recovery and emergency towing in Spokane with experienced operators, professional equipment, and a focus on getting drivers back on the road as efficiently as possible.
In the towing and recovery industry, you need expertise and problem-solving skills to help customers when they’re in these incredibly stressful situations. For this driver and truck stuck under a bridge in the middle of the city, our fast and thorough actions saved the truck and reduced a lot of stress.
Read more recovery stories like this one in the FleetEasy blog!