Low clearance signs are an integral part of many companies’ safety programs. Why are they necessary? Imagine a mode of transport pulling in to unload only to be too tall to navigate under an awning, bridge, scaffold, or other over-the-road structure. What happens? The two videos below give you an excellent idea of the kind of damage this type of accident can do.

But trucks aren’t the only modes of transport to cause this kind of damage. Trains have also been guilty of racking up some costly snafus. Keep in mind most box cars stand 17-feet 10 1/2-inches off the track.

These kind of disasters are easily preventable, however, which can save lots of money, merchandise, and even lives. All you need is a low clearance sign positioned at just the right distance from the potentially hazardous area. If a truck or train hits the sign, it is clearly evident that the vehicle should not even attempt to go under the structure ahead.

At FCM, we have manufactured these type of signs for many different institutions. The one pictured in this post prevents rail cars from coming into a building that is tall enough to fit them. It was fabricated in December 2020, but wasn’t installed at a local paper mill until February due to inclement weather.

We installed this particular sign using an excavator, a powered auger, an articulated man lift. It is 20-feet long and constructed of aluminum and the posts are 3-inch galvanized pipes cut 18-feet and 11-inches in length. The pipes were then attached to 4-foot piers that are 24-inches in diameter and burrowed into the ground and fortified with reinforced steel.

These signs can be custom made to fit any size. If your business would benefit from having low-clearance signs or any other signage, please let us know and we will be happy to make your company an even safer place to work.