Can a trucking company force you to drive into NYC ?

I would do NYC all day, but you’d have to pay. I see companies pay an extra $50 for NYC or some BS and laugh. It’s amazing workers in this country haven’t taken up arms.

And not to turn communist.

 

Going isn’t the problem. Why should a driver risk his job in a lot of ways for the same pay per mile as going into some warehouse outside Columbus? The issue is compensation for most. You waste a good part of your day doing it and they aren’t paying enough most of the time.

 

This is worth repeating,
Negotiate and use the link to YOUR advantage
[post 52]

 

that's actually what i have been doing since the covid shutdowns, and no barbershop...

down to the skin.

 

At least 45 years ago we ran Long Island. I would just go in at 3 am and come back out around noon. We went back to MI empty, so that was good not having to reload. By the grace of God I never had any problems.

I have run all 48 states, and to me the worst was Pittsburg.

 

I lived in Pittsburgh for seven years prior to ke starting trucking, so thankfully I knew most of the major arterial through the city and area--in a car.

Things looked a WHOLE LOT SMALLER the first time I went back through there in the big truck.

The main thing is...know where you're going, know where NOT to go, and before you do go in, make sure you know how to get out. Pgh is notorious for random road closures and detours; don't mess up and make a wrong turn, haha. No, I do not exactly enjoy operating in the area, but my kid lives there so I'm not opposed to it. Anytime I go and get back out without hitting nothing or nothing hitting me is like one more notch in my confidence belt.

All that said...NYC is the same thing: know where you're going, know where NOT to go and make sure you know how to get out. If you're eagle-eyed and brave enough you may even find some street parking in certain areas (like Bartow Ave in the Bronx, and a certain stretch in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn, the street name escapes me @ the moment). I know there's others out on LI too.

I flatbed so I have no reason to be at Hunts Point, but do they allow/ care for truck parking over there?

 

Back in the day, they had a lot of one way streets. I heard it has all changed, but don't know. That was it too, construction and roads blocked.

You have to remember, this is early 1970s, before GPS, cell phones and up to date road closures. Almost everything and any hope there was to find out anything, was by calling the shipper on a pay phone. Shoot, the last I trucked, I had two GPS units going, a Truckers Map, a cell phone, hands free head gear and on and on. No comparison between then and now.

 

Yes if your company has forced dispatch

 

NO!. The truth is that NO ONE can force you to do anything in trucking. Let me explain. Every decision that you make will have a reward or a consequence or sometimes both. This can be from your company, FMCSA, Police, IRS and more but ultimately, YOU make the decision. Unfortunately, you may choose NOT to go to NYC and the consequence will be that the company exercise their choice to terminate you. Your choice (No), Possible consequence (Termination). Now, you have a decision to make. Good luck.