How do you deal with heavy city traffic?

Truckers end up where the freight is, or is needed. That means big cities, small cities, and even the boondocks. New York is one of the places many drivers refuse to go. As a result many companies offer a bonus to their drivers for delivering in the five boroughs. You will notice that some companies also say "No forced NY city dispatch". That means if you don't want to go you don't have to. If you have to go into a "Big city", try and plan ahead. See if you can park at the receiver over night. If there's no parking there, then try and find a truck stop or rest area within striking distance. This way you can leave early and try to beat the traffic.LOL Some places have traffic all day.
Sometimes you may have a delivery time that brings you in during peak traffic hours. There's nothing you can do about that, but bite the bullet. Just keep a cool head, leave plenty of room in front of you for sudden stops, and pay attention to your surroundings. You don't want to miss an exit or have an accident.

 

Hill-a-billy is exactly right. I cross the GW multiple times a week and it is a pain, but you just have to deal with it. The main thing is slow down! If the traffic is doing 25, do 20. Your left leg will appreciate it in the long run. When the 4 wheelers are out of control, I put on some relaxing music, turn off the cb, and just chill. You will get to your destination more safely and in a better mood. Try to plan ahead with an alternate route in case things go really bad. Just make sure the alternate route is a legal one without low clearances and such. Cities like NY and Chicago can make this difficult. Trip planning is truly the key. You can save yourself a ton of time and headaches with the right plan. Good luck and stay safe.

 

These guys are giving great advice. My job was different. My job was the city. Traffic is a daily battle that you can never really get use to. When it's stop and go and your left leg is shaking you remember how good OTR was. But just like everything else you plan the best you can around it. In my line of work you get to know the city real good and you learn how to get around alot of problems.

For example. remember the earthquake out in southern CA where it took out some of the freeways? I thought our drivers would be cut back on loads because of all the re-routing they had to do. We do 5 loads a shift and during all that time those drivers still did 5 loads a shift. So don't worry you can do it just like the many many drivers before.

 

Major cities are intimidating when you first encounter them in a big truck, but if you get used to them, they aren't so bad. I run Chicago a lot, and at any given point have 2-3 alternative routes mapped out in my head that I can use if the traffic starts to buikd up. It's just somethign that comes with time. I use a TomTom GPS unit in the truck, and it makes traveling in bad traffic a lot easier if I have to detour.

And if all else fails, I have a big bumper and an insurance policy......

 

I went through there about 2 weeks after driving team w/ a trainer. We were supposed to deliver to an army warehouse. He was in the sleeper an to my suprise the road ended and all traffic had to exit. To my amazment the trainer was mad I had turned off at an exit that was not in the original plan. We found our way around and delivered. He was complaining so much I don't think he talked to me until we got to Nevada,but he finally got over it.Oh well, what are you gonna do when the road vanishes

 

Videodrome, all they other guys have got it right, and BTW, Detroit's a joke, compared to chicago,atlanta,NYC,NJ,etc,etc,etc...
You just sometimes have to do the best you can, if the freight has to deliver in the afternoon, then you need to plan accordingly. If you are doing a drop and hook and have no delivery window (just get it there) then you run in whenever you need to.Planning is the key, and your planning skills get better with experience.
I usually relax by lighting a stogie and turning up the am/fm (sirius) or the CB, if there is someone decent to talk to.

 

That's the attitude we would all benefit from developing Tinman! Take it in stride and they'll get over it... or not. lol

 

Plan your whole trip around rush hours when possible,I run chicago every week,plan ahead all the way from maine to destination,know exactly about the time I will run thru chicago,i try to work for a company that runs you legal,where you run your own routes at the times best for you and yet make good miles and money out there. If you get stuck in traffic relax,enjoy all the pretty gals,put a good tune on and go with the flow.

 

You have to get to your receiver/shipper when your appointment is whenever that is. It could be in the middle of rush hour. My husband just came from Long Island City, NY and had to be backed up 4 city blocks by the police to get out because the road was blocked with double and triple parkers. If these kind of conditions freak you out driving isn't for you.