How's Driving & Freight In the Northeast These Days?

ATeam · Nov 9, 2012

Diane and I are not inbound to the Northeast but will be within striking distance of it soon. How are the roads, facilities, fuel and freight up in those parts these days? What has Hurricane Sandy done and left behind that is affecting expediters 11 days after landfall?

We'll have options after our delivery. Would you head into the Northeast or avoid it?

jimby82 · Nov 9, 2012

We delivered a load of supplies to four New Jersey stops this morning in Bridgewater, Edison and Linden. There were some traffic signals that were out, but not many. Didn't really see too much in the way of storm damage. Traffic was moving smoothly on US 202, US 1 and the Turnpike. We are now sitting at the Bordentown Petro waiting for a load. The parking lot is packed. Many Bobtails up here in the front, along with several various straight trucks. They have fuel here, don't know about any of the other truck stops in this area.

We have received a "normal" amount of load offers, with some headed into NYC. Have talked to a couple of other FedEx teams that have been into NYC and out on Long Island. There is some damage, but things are slowly getting back to "normal."

As long as you don't wander off the major highways, things seem to be almost normal. Not sure what some of the "interior" sections away from the major highways are like.

It was a strange sight coming into New Jersey on I-78 then onto I-287 this morning. Most expediters that run the east coast would be familiar with the area. There were no lights on this morning around 02:00. Could have been in the middle of Wyoming for all we knew. Very odd.

bobwg · Nov 9, 2012

IMO too many looking for freight now like me. Avoid

tknight · Nov 9, 2012

I spent the night at that petrol up front 600 trucks plus in the back lot jammed in some 3 deep sat in 276 for 3 hrs moved 3 miles what a long boring knee spasaming wait headed home now

zorry · Nov 9, 2012

This week we
went from Fl to NH. Directly to a Ma to upstate NY. 20 mins in ts and we were off to 2 days on a dedicated deal in CT/ MA. Done at 15:30. Had a preload before noon.
Sis delivered MA ,turned and burned to Midwest. We were within 30 miles of each other and the punk won't sit long enough to buy me lunch.
Staying west of I-95 we've seen nothing wrong. I slept from Va to Ct but wife didn't mention anything.

ATeam · Nov 9, 2012

And what of rates? Those of you who have been working the Northeast, in this thread, Lawrence pointed readers to this article about an expected bump in rates because Sandy and other factors are expected to squeeze capacity a bit, thereby changing the supply/demand equation.

Have you seen anything in your business that confirms the article?

davekc · Nov 9, 2012

Rates are real good for the local stuff. Not so much for outbound. Seem less on the outbound verses a few weeks ago. Too much capacity sitting in there trying to get out. Charge accordingly if going in.

Deville · Nov 10, 2012

NYC fuel situation hasn't improved very much. NJ is nearly back to normal. I was busy this week.
I stopped in Bordentown Thursday night to drop off my paperwprk at the trippak. The parking lot was packed with straights & bob tails.

golfournut · Nov 10, 2012

Did 3 stops last night. 1st staten island, 2nd Brooklyn, 3rd w 23rd st. It was dark so couldn't see much of the surroundings. Came in on 78/287, plenty of fuel out that way. Fuel stops on the pike are odd/even for gas. Don't know about diesel. Didn't get either one.

At the Petro in Bordentown. Yep, jam packed. Stopped for a nap. South bound on the pike was down to 1 lane for construction.

The rates, fabulous. Even after DH home, net will be $2.20/mile all miles. Not bad for a Sprinter.

Baltimore, all is OK. No problems there.

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Deville · Nov 10, 2012

Where did you go in Staten Island?

golfournut · Nov 11, 2012

Deville said:
Where did you go in Staten Island?

Big box home center.

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ATeam · Nov 11, 2012

Diane and I just completed a delivery on Long Island. Coming from the west (Throgs Neck Bridge), we drove about 1/3 of the way across the Island on the Long Island Expressway (I-495). The delivery was not far from there. Everything was normal. All the power was on. Not even a downed tree was seen.

News reports that people not far from here have been without power since Sandy hit. They are not happy with their power company (LIPA).

Drove past the Flying J in Winchester, VA on the way. That place was a zoo with fuel islands three trucks deep across all aisles and the RV pumps full with RV's. Parking lots in front and back were packed tight and very active.

A few miles up I-81 in Greencastle, PA, the TA was quiet and peaceful like most truck stops are on a Sunday afternoon. Lots of empty spaces, no lines for anything.

xxiv24 · Nov 11, 2012

I have been in West Hartford, Ct. Since Fri. morn.
Yes it is very peaceful here...

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Deville · Nov 11, 2012

golfournut said:
Big box home center.

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I have never heard of it. I googled it there is no listing on SI for any company doing business under that name.

xmudman · Nov 12, 2012

ATeam said:
Drove past the Flying J in Winchester, VA on the way. That place was a zoo with fuel islands three trucks deep across all aisles and the RV pumps full with RV's. Parking lots in front and back were packed tight and very active.

A few miles up I-81 in Greencastle, PA, the TA was quiet and peaceful like most truck stops are on a Sunday afternoon. Lots of empty spaces, no lines for anything.

Difference in fuel prices, I would guess. My boss always fuels the straight in VA on the way to Harrisonburg....

golfournut · Nov 13, 2012

Deville said:
I have never heard of it. I googled it there is no listing on SI for any company doing business under that name.

Duh!

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ATeam · Nov 13, 2012

We delivered a relief load in Long Island Sunday night. Later that night we were dispatched on a load that picked up nearby on Monday morning. That load took us to Pennsylvania, so we were in and out quickly. The load out was nothing related to Sandy; four pieces of office furniture being moved from one distribution center to another. Rates in and out were good.

Before Monday's pick up, an agent booked our truck on loads that will keep us committed up to Thanksgiving. Those loads are not Sandy related and take us elsewhere in the country. They include a few days of time off between loads. We took the loads partly because of the time off they provide (we have other things to do).

Offers seen yesterday and today seem typical. Other than the first relief load into Long Island, we have seen no Sandy-related business or unusual bump in rates. Note that we were in California when Sandy hit and thereafter for several days. Our first exposure to the Northeast, post-Sandy, was some time after landfall.

jimby82 · Nov 13, 2012

We really didn't see that many load offers over the weekend or yesterday, either for that matter. Many trucks in the area.

There were 11 FedEx D trucks sitting in the Trenton express center for most of the weekend. Several other carriers represented at the Petro in Bordentown as well.

We did manage to get a load headed west, picked up in NH this morning headed to near Denver. At least we're away from the east for a bit.

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