local leo's are pretty cool

**dirtyjerz** · 09.08.2012

Ok ok i know someone will burn me for that title but hear me out. Local cops can be very helpful when your jammed up. Some examples.

1. Union, NJ. 2300 I missed the turn into a customer because the rent a cop had the gate closed and was sleeping in his shack. (Chainlink gate along the road) The road split to a small side street which i pulled down. Thru the four ways on, parked, opened said gate, woke the gaurd. Walking back to the truck 5-0 pulls up. I explain what happened. He told me the side road leads to a residental area and id never make the turns going 'around the block. So he told me to cut thru the 7-11. Dont worry about all the no left hand turn signs, special circumstances, just dont hit anything. Works for me. He went on his way, i skipped the slurpie but made my pickup.

2. North Philly. 1530 Some have read my thread on this. A 13'6" trailer cant fit under 12'3" bridge. Also when a 13'11" bridge blocks the view of the low bridge a sign should be posted (of course there isnt) So what did i do? Walked up the street a block to a sitting squad car. The cop was more than happy to block traffic while i backed out of the road.

3. Elizabeth, NJ 1700 Once again a low bridge. Luckily i didnt have to back out. Up ahead you had to make a right (nj is the land of no left turns) and theres a 12 footer. Just by chance a fine local cop happened to be coming out of the corner store right where i was. Told him where i was trying to go. (same street i was on, but it required the quick right, low bridge, quick lift) So he ESCORTED ME by blocking traffic for the illegal left turn, illegal right turn (only buses can turn at this light) block traffic again at the next bridge which i had to go right down the middle of because of the arch and made sure i got back on the road my drop was on.

So everyone wants to tell horror stories of local enforcement but there are leo's who do understand and will help out a driver. Note the time for the second two. Rush hour. Without help i woulda been screwed. Now if your being a dumbarse i can see the leo not being so friendly but when you present yourself as a professional and ask for a hand they, at least in my experience, go beyond what they have to do and help out a driver.

**bigdad7** · 09.08.2012

i don;t know when i keep getting threatened by a local leo in town .....she is quite agressive at times can get quite heated and has even taken advantage of me sexually ....when i complained to the chief in the town he told me to get the hell out of his office because i was the dumb ### that married her ....just saying most leo;s i know are pretty descent now them dot bears well i guess the ones my i know through my wife are pretty descent too ...

**PackRatTDI** · 09.08.2012

My only negative LEO experiences have been with local.cops. LAPD and the Hoboken, NJ PD.

**Numb** · 09.08.2012

I have learned a lot from the DOT at scale house in different states. If you really want to know the real law, not some trucker story , stop in and ask. they have always been kind and willing to help. they are quite surprised when you do it, though !!

**Okieron** · 09.08.2012

I had one stop me one time just to tell me I was about F up big time. road work ahead and no signs would have had to back about a mile. showed me the way around and back to where I needed to be. DOT has always been helpful when I ask ! it's when I don;t ask and they volunteer info that its not good.

**STexan** · 09.08.2012

Typically, the attitude you get from LEO in the end is directly proportional to the attitude the driver gives the LEO in the beginning. Yes, there are a few exceptions, I understand.

**skellr** · 09.08.2012

I asked one about parking one night and let me park in a tow away zone for my 10. He told me not to worry about it and just get some sleep.

**cheeseburger** · 09.08.2012

Originally Posted by STexan

Typically, the attitude you get from LEO in the end is directly proportional to the attitude the driver gives the LEO in the beginning. Yes, there are a few exceptions, I understand.

exactly, they tend to really appreciate drivers with a little intelligence and common sense, which most LEO's don't see very often.

**NavigatorWife** · 09.08.2012

Originally Posted by dirtyjerz

Ok ok i know someone will burn me for that title but hear me out. Local cops can be very helpful when your jammed up. Some examples.

1. Union, NJ. 2300 I missed the turn into a customer because the rent a cop had the gate closed and was sleeping in his shack. (Chainlink gate along the road) The road split to a small side street which i pulled down. Thru the four ways on, parked, opened said gate, woke the gaurd. Walking back to the truck 5-0 pulls up. I explain what happened. He told me the side road leads to a residental area and id never make the turns going 'around the block. So he told me to cut thru the 7-11. Dont worry about all the no left hand turn signs, special circumstances, just dont hit anything. Works for me. He went on his way, i skipped the slurpie but made my pickup.

2. North Philly. 1530 Some have read my thread on this. A 13'6" trailer cant fit under 12'3" bridge. Also when a 13'11" bridge blocks the view of the low bridge a sign should be posted (of course there isnt) So what did i do? Walked up the street a block to a sitting squad car. The cop was more than happy to block traffic while i backed out of the road.

3. Elizabeth, NJ 1700 Once again a low bridge. Luckily i didnt have to back out. Up ahead you had to make a right (nj is the land of no left turns) and theres a 12 footer. Just by chance a fine local cop happened to be coming out of the corner store right where i was. Told him where i was trying to go. (same street i was on, but it required the quick right, low bridge, quick lift) So he ESCORTED ME by blocking traffic for the illegal left turn, illegal right turn (only buses can turn at this light) block traffic again at the next bridge which i had to go right down the middle of because of the arch and made sure i got back on the road my drop was on.

So everyone wants to tell horror stories of local enforcement but there are leo's who do understand and will help out a driver. Note the time for the second two. Rush hour. Without help i woulda been screwed. Now if your being a dumbarse i can see the leo not being so friendly but when you present yourself as a professional and ask for a hand they, at least in my experience, go beyond what they have to do and help out a driver.

I just wondered are you finding your own routes or are you given a route by load plan. Are there ways into the places you have gone that had the low bridges, or are you just stuck going that way.

I recently ordered the truck route map for New York boroughs off the internet, but it does not have low bridge clearances marked on it, just the truck routes is all.

I have googled and tried looking at places in areas that have a overpass to see if it has a sign in the area posting what height it is, sometimes you find them, sometimes not. I usually figure if the bridge doesn't have a sign on it, it is most likely legal to go under.

South Holland, IL is one place that has some old low train trestle bridges that are marked with the height that is lower than 13'6', but a truck can usually go under them. So much for guessing games.

We once made it under a 13'5' bridge in Tea Garden, NJ area at 13'6".

**dirtyjerz** · 09.08.2012

Originally Posted by bigdad7

...when i complained to the chief in the town he told me to get the hell out of his office because i was the dumb ### that married her ......

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, you dug your own grave with that one. Lol

Originally Posted by NavigatorWife

I just wondered are you finding your own routes or are you given a route by load plan. Are there ways into the places you have gone that had the low bridges, or are you just stuck going that way.

I recently ordered the truck route map for New York boroughs off the internet, but it does not have low bridge clearances marked on it, just the truck routes is all.

I have googled and tried looking at places in areas that have a overpass to see if it has a sign in the area posting what height it is, sometimes you find them, sometimes not. I usually figure if the bridge doesn't have a sign on it, it is most likely legal to go under.

South Holland, IL is one place that has some old low train trestle bridges that are marked with the height that is lower than 13'6', but a truck can usually go under them. So much for guessing games.

We once made it under a 13'5' bridge in Tea Garden, NJ area at 13'6".

I route myself. Believe it or not my company doesnt route you, even get to pick your own fuel stops of the approved list if your a road or regional driver. My dispatchers exact word to me one night on my second run were 'your the driver its your job to find the place, the address is on the load screen on your qualcom' In my defense he told me to go to philly, which could have been a lot.of different place. I knew this one so no.big deal.

I use google maps and also know alot of the area i run. Also have a eagle eye for signs but every now and then a sign isnt posted well ahead of time and ya can get jammed up. Hey now i know not to go.down that road. Ive gone under a few marked 13'5 but very slowly. And if its not marked and not a truck restricted road it better be 13'6, or i bet a lawsuit would be on its way.