low bridges in ny

I say it here all the time but the NYC truck route map, while a helpful tool, will not guarantee safe passage for a 13'6" trailer on any and all routes marked. Try to stick to the red "through routes" and off the blue "local routes" if possible. They tinker with the local routes all the time and some of them are definitely not big truck friendly in the traditional sense. The red routes are larger arterial roads that are generally better roads for trucks. I drove locally pulling pups and 48' around brooklyn and queens so I often had to ignore the map to get between two local stops efficiently. I didnt do it long enough to have it down to an exact science but did it long enough to make a couple mistakes and speak from some hard won experience. (Didn't pay enough per hour IMO to make it worth my aggravation basically.)

 

I usually try to call the shipper. They most likelly know how to get you there from the nearest expressway. I wouldnt recommend going there in a big truck anyways. I have to go sometimes, bc I live in Long Island, but when going home I just park the truck in NY and go by car. I always try to follow locals (with 13'6" heigh trailers), when I get to the new area. If it gets tricky it's better to stop and seek for advice (ask the same guys, they know). Once I had a loading on a narrow, one-way street in Brooklyn, the shipper gave me directions, than I had to park along the curb blocking school entrance, 2 fire pumps and no-parking-anytine signs for 2hr loading. While sitting there and waiting I started looking up my way out from the city. GPS kept saing "cannot calculate route" (aka "your'e ##***d"), so I took a quick walk (quick enough not to get a ticket for parking) to the end of the street and there it was, a 10' bridge. I asked the shipper, but they seemed not to care this time. Aparently they didn't want to take responsibility for directions in this case, and only wanted to get me loaded and forget. So I started to plan how I was going to back up about 2 blocks, but then a local truck with same-height trailer passed me and went under the bridge with no issue. I hate NY for this, but we just have to deal with it. Also local car drivers are far more agressive than elswere and won't give you a break. Traffic is extremelly heavy and routes are in bad condition. Hard time for the truck, and the driver. I remember when I was studying for my NYS CDL, in the bridges and tunnels chapter, they wrote that you are responsible for checking the clearance everytime, because even if the sign says, you can clear, the route might have been repaved and sign not updated since it was posted...

 

I once called a place in the Bronx for directions. Told him I was coming from NJ and the directions he gave me ended up being more for coming from Connecticut.

 

Not sure if it is still there but years ago on the cross Bronx you roll up on a 12 ft something overpass.
It used to say all trucks exit.
I made that mistake one night and no signs telling you where to go after you exit.

This was back before GPS and I was a rookie!
I flagged down a cabbie and gave him 20 bucks to get me back on the highway.
Come to find out that sign was wrong and trucks blow right under it all the time..
Best 20 bucks I ever spent!

 

Close EZ...that signs on 278 in Bklyn&directs you off at Atlantic Av...&yup its STILL there....

 

You are correct Sir! Took me a bit to remember where it was...
All I know is late at night that looked like not a great area to be trying to find my way out of...lol!

 

Lol....its probably cuz I've run up there for so many years....but its not a bad spot really....worst part is....its actually an easy wide detour..really was just 2 turns relativelywide&right back up on big road..when they really needed it...but even back then...I don't think the detour signs lasted long on the side streets before the local kids stole them