Truck info for NYC.

They post them lower than what they are actually to allow for built up snow... That way you can have a foot of snow on the ground and still clear the bridge...

 

My daughter has had a steady diet of NYC, Boston, Chi, etc. and is looking for a dedicated route co. or someone that isn't hng up on the Eastern seaboard. She has a clean driving record, good scores, but about a half-year of experience. Just got the liquer license, Hazmat, etc.

 

I remember my first time going through Brooklyn on the BQE. I passed a number of signs telling me to get off next exit if over 12'6. Then I saw an overpass covering 2 of 3 lanes and hard braked all the way to the shoulder. I sat there for a few minutes to change my underwear when I saw a few big trucks fly under it at 60 mph. After that I just got back on and tried to read the signs and make sure there was a 13'6 trailer in front of me. Better him than me right?

 

I spend a lot more time in NYC than I like. Anytime I drive for a few miles without seeing a truck, I get really nervous.

I wish NYC would label their bridges the actual height. You never know when you're about to smash into a bridge labeled 12'6 because you've just gone under 15 before labeled the same thing. Another thing I've learned about driving in NYC, especially off the interstate, is that you have to be a bully. Use the size of your truck to your advantage. If not, you'll have a long day.

Oh, I always slide my tandems up all the way once I've passed the last scale before NYC, no matter my weight. Also, don't rely on the rand Mcnally GPS once you get off one of the major interstates. It'll send you into turns that aren't possible to make, especially if it's during the day. The website on the first post will send you NYC low clearance, and road maps also.

 

I was born and raised in Atlanta. Atlanta is .00001% of NYC as far as difficulty. The only thing that sucks about driving Atlanta is the traffic on 285, 75, 85, and 20. There are VERY few low clearance bridges, and the city is spread out, meaning it's not cramped like other big cities. Not sure how Atlanta gets a bad rap when trucks aren't even allowed inside of 285, unless dropping. all 285 is is a big circle.

Downtown Atlanta is as easy to drive through as most mid-sized cities. It's nothing like Chicago, or NYC, NJ, or Boston.

 

When I first got my CDL, I was living in the Buffalo, NY area and my trainer was from Rochester so the the bridge signs were almost the first thing I learned about driving a truck in NY. More than once I've come across a truck parked in front of a 12'6" bridge and I would just drive around them and go under the bridge and they would take the hint, lol.

Of course, that didn't stop the bridges around the main Post Office in Buffalo collecting about a truck a week. Some of those bridges would be marked at 10'8" and drivers would try to get under them...

 

The small towns in pa, wv, nys, vt and other states, esp. the old historic towns have some tighter turns than nyc. The biggest prob with nyc is a. the traffic and b. the low clearences. Other than that there is nothing to it. Just like anywhere else. Drive professionally and you'll be ok.

Also, why does everyone hate on jersey. Its not bad at all. Yeah, newark, jersey city, elizabeth can be a bit tricky but the whole state isnt that way. One trip down us40 from the delaware memorial bridge to ac will change your mind. Just watch out for the devil. He roams the pine barrens in the middle of the state.

 

And remember,NO TRUCKS ON NYC PARKWAYS or on THE FDR. Once the Highway Unit of the NYPD gets through writing up all the tickets that officer is good for the day.

 

If you want info on truck routes in ny go to NYC dot site and they will send you free maps as many as you want. It has all truck routes marked off and is very useful. I get 10 of them and gave them to my fellow drivers who go up there. They will mail them to you.

 

I went to Manhattan and Brooklyn quite a few times, but I'll say that Jersey city was worse to me.

I do agree with DirtyJerz that some of our small little podunk towns will throw you for a loop more than some of the places in NYC. I found that being all blocks in NYC really helps alot, especially if you miss your turn, try doing that in Pittsburgh and see how it works out for ya, lol.