You are the manager of a small trucking company delivering medical supplies to
hospitals in the state. At 3:00 p.m. you receive a call from one of your drivers. He reports
that in going under a bridge he heard a terrible noise and then the truck came to a sudden
stop. After reviewing the situation, he has determined that while the truck is in working
order, it is struck under the bridge. The truck is unable to clear the bridge by one inch.
While the driver believes that he may be able to back the truck out from under the
bridge, he is concerned that we will not be able to make his next delivery 45 miles north
of the bridge before receiving closes at 5:00 p.m. Back tracking and taking an alternative
route would require a trip of 110 miles on country roads. There is a small community 10
miles north of the bridge. Your company has promised the hospital that this order would
be delivered today. Using the problem-solving process, how would the driver get the
truck to the hospital on time?

1. **Identify the problem**: The problem is that the truck is stuck under a bridge, preventing it from delivering medical supplies to a hospital by 5:00 p.m.

2. **Gather information**: We know that the truck is unable to clear the bridge by one inch and that backtracking and taking an alternative route would require a trip of 110 miles on country roads.

3. **Identify possible solutions**:

- Attempt to back the truck out from under the bridge and proceed with the original route.

- Deliver the supplies to the small community 10 miles north of the bridge, and then find a way to transport them the remaining 35 miles to the hospital.

- Explore any other feasible options.

4. **Evaluate the solutions**:

- Attempting to back the truck out from under the bridge might be risky and time-consuming. There's a possibility of causing further damage to the truck or the bridge.

- Delivering the supplies to the small community and finding alternative transportation for the remaining distance could be a viable option, but it depends on the availability of transportation and whether it can be arranged quickly enough to meet the deadline.

5. **Choose the best solution**: Given the time constraints and the promise made to the hospital, the best solution may be to deliver the supplies to the small community 10 miles north of the bridge. From there, arrangements can be made to transport the supplies the remaining 35 miles to the hospital. This might involve hiring a local delivery service, using multiple vehicles, or seeking assistance from other nearby businesses or individuals.

6. **Implement the solution**: Instruct the driver to deliver the supplies to the small community and then coordinate with local authorities, businesses, or individuals to arrange transportation for the remaining distance to the hospital.

7. **Evaluate the results**: Monitor the progress of the alternative transportation arrangement and ensure that the supplies reach the hospital on time. After the delivery is completed, assess any additional costs or logistical challenges incurred and consider ways to prevent similar incidents in the future.

By following this problem-solving process, the driver can get the truck's supplies to the hospital on time despite the unexpected obstacle of the bridge.