Trucking News · Vermont · November 2, 2026

Vermont Dump Truck Driver Told Inspectors He Forgot to Lower a Raised Dump Body Before Hitting Utility Lines on Route 100

By Big Rig Daily Staff

A dump truck driver in northern Vermont told inspectors he drove with his dump body still raised and struck overhead utility lines. The driver said he had raised the body and forgot to lower it, according to a report by ATruckDrivers. The details below come from that report, which cites a release from the Vermont Highway Patrol.

What happened

The patrol was dispatched around 6:12 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27, to Vermont Route 100 in Newport Town. Inspectors found the dump truck off the roadway, entangled in utility lines. The driver, who was not named here, told inspectors that he had raised the dump body and forgot to lower it. While driving down Route 100, he hit the utility lines, which caused the truck to leave the road.

Damage and road closure

The report says the strike caused substantial damage to lines and poles, and that the road was closed for several hours while crews worked to clear the scene.

The investigation

The Vermont Highway Patrol completed an at-scene crash investigation and a post-crash inspection of the truck. The Newport Center Fire Department assisted. The report said the release did not mention any injuries or citations.

What is not known

The report does not say how high the lines were, what the truck was hauling or how far it traveled with the body raised. Big Rig Daily is not guessing at any of those details.

A reminder about overhead hazards

Overhead lines and low structures are a hazard for any truck with equipment that raises. Big Rig Daily's pre-trip inspection checklist covers a walk-around, and a report on low-bridge and GPS bills in New Jersey covers a related clearance issue. Neither speaks to this incident.

Quick facts

• When: about 6:12 a.m. dispatch, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026.
• Where: Vermont Route 100, Newport Town, Vermont.
• What: a dump truck with a raised body hit utility lines and left the road.
• Damage: substantial damage to lines and poles; road closed several hours.
• Injuries and citations: not mentioned in the release, per the report.

FAQ

What did the Vermont dump truck driver tell inspectors?

That he had raised the dump body and forgot to lower it before driving.

Was anyone hurt when the Vermont dump truck hit utility lines?

The report said the release did not mention any injuries.

Was the Vermont dump truck driver cited?

The release did not mention any citations, according to the report.

A question for readers

Dump truck drivers, what reminder or routine helps you make sure the body is down before you roll?

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