Driving a semi into Brooklyn, NY.

I'm sort of a new driver. I've never driven into the New York City area. My company does all 48 states and Canada and we get a lot of loads that deliver to a USG plant in Brooklyn. Do any of you more experienced drivers have a few words of wisdom regarding driving in the Brooklyn area? What to watch out for? Availablity of overnight parking? Nightmarish trips you've taken into NYC? etc.

 

Overnight parking lol, you serious?

Ok ok, Ill behave. Unless your company has prior knowledge and an agreement to the receiver for over night parking. ALWAYS stay West of the bridge the night before. Give yourself plenty of time to cross, and get through traffic. Its tight, people are pissed and move fast. I-95 has plenty of travel plazas to over night in before you take the plunge.

Keep plenty of cash in your pocket for tolls if you gotta pay. Not sure where you're gonna enter, but last time I went across the GW towards the Bronx the toll was going up to $45 if I remember correctly. I know you'll be on south of there, just saying...

My best advice, call the customer and ask!

 

On the east side of the George Washington Bridge...don't let the clearance signs (12-9 or less) fool you...they are for winter conditions when snow pack is on the roadway...bridge clearances are good for 13'6" truck/trailer...got me spinning the first couple times I delivered in "the city". It is really important to know where you are going before you get across the GW...traffic is always a mess and you need to be ready to exit immediately...they don't give any room in that place.

Now over on Long Island, things settle down to a dull roar compared to in "the city" and it's "burbs".

 

Yep that sign scared the crap out of me when I seen that sign and it's at the last minute. And that bridge is the bridge from he'll. I'm not a expert but I've been there 5 times but the previous 2 people said everything I wouldve said but as far as where to park I drove to the new jesery rest area I can't remember the name but it was the biggest one on the turnpike I think on i95 I think but it seems to be always packed an towards the night you might have to sleep on the ramp.

 

Where are you going in brooklyn. I am in nyc just about everyday

 

All i can tell you is be careful. stay away from any road that say's Parkway! I was born and raised in Brooklyn (Sheepshead bay) and wathched several drivers exit off the V.Z. bridge and enter the belt pkwy and destroy their trailers. going east and west thru the city streets can be a ##### due to the Subway overpasses that are 12'10" I know, i learned to drive truck in 1976 and nothing has changed except for more traffic and more impatient drivers.

 

Well you all gave that driver good advice but I used to tell my dispatcher when I drove for a company that when there that I was allergic to NYC and for some reason I NEVER ended up delivering there. They did however send me into Jersey a couple of times which can be a nightmare too but nowhere near NYC

 

if you're referring to usg, as in united states gypsum their web site doesn't have a listing for brooklyn. only one up in stony point. where is it in brooklyn?

my tip that hasn't been mentioned already is to learn the best times to go in/out and thru the city. know that you want to hit the gw northbound by 6 am, the verrazano by 530, be going east on the lie at 6....etc. then learn a shortcut if the cross bronx is backed up. yes there are shortcuts. the rest is like any other city. watch your head and turns.

 

Marsteven,
What HS did you go to? I went to Madison, Left there in 72. I am happy since then

Larry

 

Stony Point is up the Hudson Valley a bit.