Abilene Motor Express....A New Place To Call Home

I would drive a truck anywhere, but if I were employed by Abiliene I would not drive their equipment into NYC for the simple fact that it isn't legal to drive in NYC. The company I used to drive for paid a law firm in NYC to research the dimensional restrictions for trucks, and the letter they received as a reply is available on their website. It states that a tractor trailer cannot be more than 55 feet of total length, or more than 8 feet (96 inches) wide. It also says "Trailers of 53 feet are not allowed to make pickups or deliveries in New York City."

And just to reiterate, that is not truck stop lunch counter lawyer talk, but from a letter that is written on the letterhead of an law firm located in New York City.

 

http://www.primeinc.com/Websites/primeinc2/files/Content/3579325/nyc-size-weight-restrictions.pdf

The letter specifically says New York City and not Manhattan.

Do people break this law on a daily basis? Yes.

Is it heavily enforced? No.

Would I risk my career, finances, and possibly freedom by driving a vehicle that is prohibited and risk getting into some type of accident while in NYC with a 53 foot trailer? Hell no.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/truckaccess.pdf

 

i break about 50 laws a day
there must be one about using common sense
people seem to adhere to the lack of common sense law
i would like a law saying no truck traffic on cross bronk
non sensical discussion
best left to the coffee counter

 

Those in the "know" know that Manhattan is considered NYC, while the Bronx, Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens are more like their own towns with their own rules and own governments. Manhattan is in the county of New York, and the actual postal address is New York, New York, not Manhattan, New York. The other four boroughs are called specifically by their names, even on postage. The actual 53' rule only applies to Manhattan. You can take 53' trailers into any other section of the Five Boroughs unless it is specifically prohibited.

 

When I was with Abilene riding with Big Brin we (three other trucks and ourselves) had Hill Phoenix deliveries in the Lower East side of Manhattan as they were opening up a grocery store there back in March. Four Abilene trucks nose to tail back to back to back to back taking up a whole city block. Going to eat pizza at 3am with the other drivers was definitely a highlight. Had to cross through Manhattan to get out of there. They must not enforce it because nary a cop blinked an eye at us. Was kinda fun of course I wasn't doing the driving. But I think we had 53's if I remember correctly. We got there at 2am, but didn't leave until about 9 or 10 am. Ah, memories. Wasn't eight months ago.

 

Brother, that was not a temper tantrum. I felt all the posts were directed at me and I responded, that is all. They seemed to start after my comments about NYC and the NE, so I said what was on my mind. I call things as I see them and you've just proven my point, along with quite a few others.

That being said, I have not refused to go anywhere with Abilene, unless I didn't have hours to go. Even then I would make suggestions to assist in getting the load where it needed to be. Oh, I take that back. I refused a load to Scarborough ME because it was 25 degrees there, my bunk heater was broken and my truck wouldn't idle.

 

To quote Cranky Yankee, "Your no truck diver if you can't do it all." What? You don't want to drive in 7' of snow? Oh man! You're not a truck driver then!