&*%$# Brooklyn runs!!!

layoutshooter · Oct 22, 2006

I ran two runs to Brooklyn in the last couple of months. I think I need my head checked. One was a "quickie" run, less than 150 mi and paid really good, except that it took almost 9 hours due to the traffic, bad routing etc. Not good.

The other dropped off at a building construction site, downtown. No where to park. We circled the block several times looking for the buildling, no number on it. FINALLY found it by accident. Circled the block a few more times, STILL no parking. Had to double park to unload, dumb move I know. Thought it was better than driving in circles in downtown Brooklyn at 0800. My owner called me yesterday with the great news about the $250.00 tickets I got for my troubles.

I think I will limit my runs in that area to only places that have loading docks or runs that pick up or deliver between 0400 and 0405. Nice time window. LOL!!!

By the way, can I deduct those tickets off my taxes? They must be a "cost of doing business in Brooklyn" expense.

Layoutshooter

FIS53 · Oct 22, 2006

Understand your frustration at delivering to a construction site. I had to do a couple of runs to one downtown Toronto and same problem with parking, drove around the block several times trying to get a spot. Got really frustrated and started to be creative. I found a lot of those orange cones blocking parts of the road and I just moved a few, parked and put them out further to go around my truck. Since the loads were hand bomb and no access to the new loading dock at the building I found this solution was great. I did this both times and got a spot with in 100ft of the driveway to the loading dock. I actually got away with this, no tickets, not even any questions from the workers there. I had my safty vest, hard hat and boots on and they just let me unload.
Just an idea for u next time. It worked for me...

FIS53 · Oct 22, 2006

Oh forgot about the ticket question. Up here tickets are not considered a business expense, but that doesn't stop some guys from cliaming them as one. Remember you got the ticket for doing something wrong (read illegal) and therefore are not considered a regular business expense.

layoutshooter · Oct 22, 2006

I thinks I was only joking about the tax thing. Sort of anyway. I kinda looked at the tickets as a "Brooklyn transportation tax" LOL. These big cities want the toys we carry but don't want us to carry them in. We seem to be a big cash cow for them. We live and learn. I guess I will thinks twice about runs like that. Layoutshooter

darkunicorn · Oct 22, 2006

And people in dispatch at my old carrier thought was crazy not to take those loads :d been there done that after all said and done not worth the hastle!

Alvin

layoutshooter · Oct 22, 2006

Man do you have that right!!!!!!!!!! Will have to really think long and hard next time. It might come down to how long it has been since my last load and what bills are due next week!!!!! LOL

Layoutshooter

cheri1122 · Oct 22, 2006

What a difference a day makes, lol - I just did a NYC pickup on Saturday, and it was really nice. I agree: the day & time make a tremendous difference. If there isn't anywhere to park, and you don't have any orange cones available to create a spot, could you call the carrier, shipper, whomever, to explain the delay? It's not fair to expect the driver to pay to get loaded!

layoutshooter · Oct 23, 2006

Might try calling next time. It is not very safe to circle the block in heavy traffic. Throw in a few hundred thousand people on foot who are not paying attention to the traffic who knows what might happen. Not a good thing. Layoutshooter

Broompilot · Oct 23, 2006

It was the Cost of doing business, so writing off the ticket is acceptable from your federal income tax, state I cannot reply on.

layoutshooter · Oct 24, 2006

Have you done this with any success?

greg334 · Oct 25, 2006

you know that the ticket is in the owners name, not yours so here is an idea, let him charge you for the ticket as something other than a ticket, maybe a NYC fee? it than becomes a business expense.

Remember any advice or ideas given are not from a CPA, check with you CPA.

nightcreacher · Oct 25, 2006

ticket, if parking is in name of owner,any other is in driver's name.
also,tickets are not in price of doing business,they are for doing something illegal,I've tried that before,irs thew it out.
not sure what your ticket was for,but if unloading at construction site,someone for got to grease a palm
I'm just happy our trailers arent permitted for nyc,although I've spent many a load delivering there in the past