Hello everyone Im new to expediting. Got a job with fed ex custom crit oo. I really dont have too much over the road experience, but he wants me to solo all over the northeast. Never been there before even in a car, kinda nervous about running through New York city. Does anyone have advice as far as what to watch out for what streets to be on in the city low bridges etc. FYI I wont be starting for a couple of months yet. thanks for the input.
northeast
- Thread starter davet391
- Start date
Going Long
Seasoned Expediter
The N.E. is where I live..just be ready to go no where fast..
Get a map of the 5 boroughs(VERY IMPORTANT)..and you should be fine.
Bridges in NY city are marked low..you can fit under most without any trouble.
Parkways are for cars..Expressways for trucks..and they mean it!
The earlier you go into the city the better..what I do if going to a bad area is get close to the delivery point...but stay on a well travelled street until time to make the drop.
The other problems are minor really..The New Jersey turnpike will drive you crazy..one small accident and it's a parking lot..just look at your atlas and plan a head.
The Boston area is fun at rush hour..but hey what city isn't?!
Once above it though smooth sailing.(IMO)
D.C. is the biggest problem. If you have to deliver anytime after 3:00 PM you're going to have a LONG wait..traffic is a killer EVERYDAY!! Rush hour starts at 5AM eases up at 11am or so..and then starts up again around 3PM.
Check with the people on this forum and you'll be fine..this is a great site and everyone will help you.
Good Luck!
Get a map of the 5 boroughs(VERY IMPORTANT)..and you should be fine.
Bridges in NY city are marked low..you can fit under most without any trouble.
Parkways are for cars..Expressways for trucks..and they mean it!
The earlier you go into the city the better..what I do if going to a bad area is get close to the delivery point...but stay on a well travelled street until time to make the drop.
The other problems are minor really..The New Jersey turnpike will drive you crazy..one small accident and it's a parking lot..just look at your atlas and plan a head.
The Boston area is fun at rush hour..but hey what city isn't?!
Once above it though smooth sailing.(IMO)
D.C. is the biggest problem. If you have to deliver anytime after 3:00 PM you're going to have a LONG wait..traffic is a killer EVERYDAY!! Rush hour starts at 5AM eases up at 11am or so..and then starts up again around 3PM.
Check with the people on this forum and you'll be fine..this is a great site and everyone will help you.
Good Luck!
If you can make your first-ever trip into the city in something other than a truck, do it. The more familiar with the sights and sound sof the city you are, the easier it will be to concentrate on your truck driving.
Use the web to figure out how to take a commuter train into a Manhattan station, Grand Central Terminal (formerly Grand Central Station is a good one. There are double-decker tour buses there. You can buy an all day ticket and hop between them to many parts of the city.
Diane and I went in cold our first time. Knowing something about the city first would have made things much easier. Map studies to get familiar with the area and roads are a huge plus.
Thousands of truck drivers of all experience levels successfully make their way in, around and out of the city every day. The more prepared you are, the easier it will be.
Use the web to figure out how to take a commuter train into a Manhattan station, Grand Central Terminal (formerly Grand Central Station is a good one. There are double-decker tour buses there. You can buy an all day ticket and hop between them to many parts of the city.
Diane and I went in cold our first time. Knowing something about the city first would have made things much easier. Map studies to get familiar with the area and roads are a huge plus.
Thousands of truck drivers of all experience levels successfully make their way in, around and out of the city every day. The more prepared you are, the easier it will be.
The very first run FedEx CC gave me, straight out of orientation, picked up near Pittsburgh and delivered to Eagle Outfitters, Union Square, Manhattan. Talk about breaking somebody in. I am from the southeast and never driven in NY before. The saving grace was delivery time was 2100. I really didn't have any problem but traffic coming out was horrific even at that hour. I have been back in a few times but vow every time it is my last. The tolls, road conditions, fuel prices, traffic and lack of a decent place to lay over make it not worth it to me. But that is me. If it pays really well... maybe...
They seem to always need trucks up there so you will probobly do well. Just take your time and look at your maps.
They seem to always need trucks up there so you will probobly do well. Just take your time and look at your maps.
Broompilot
Veteran Expediter
Two great suggestions, and here is my input. Do what they say, and do it in the middle of the night at first tour the city. Than stay for RUSH Hour that starts at 5am thru midnight.
Its a real treat to be able to drive there in a big truck let alone a four wheeler. I look forward to it every time the phone rings. Please Please Please let it be a load to NY NY.... but ya gotta do what ya gotta do or do we?
Its a real treat to be able to drive there in a big truck let alone a four wheeler. I look forward to it every time the phone rings. Please Please Please let it be a load to NY NY.... but ya gotta do what ya gotta do or do we?
Tennesseahawk
Veteran Expediter
I got over the traffic in the northeast, simply cause every run in and out seems to have a lot of miles attached. Sure things up here stink, like high fuel prices, idling laws and such; but the miles... think miles. 1100 going to Queens and 1450 out of CT. Not bad for a solo (legally too).
Just curious... does the owner want you to be strictly New England? I could understand him telling you take what you can around NE, but unless you live there, why tell someone to just run there? Sounds like he's trying to get an angle on NE freight that everyone already knows about. And there are reasons ppl don't like running there. I'm sure after awhile it'll wear on you.
Oh... dropping in DE tomorrow morning. Sunday night, 4 lanes northbound on 95, just East of Baltimore; 8 mile backup for an accident that takes the right two lanes (CR England smushed a 4 wheeler). 1.5 hours to get thru, and clear when I get there. Only in the northeast
"If I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don't know." - Kansas
Just curious... does the owner want you to be strictly New England? I could understand him telling you take what you can around NE, but unless you live there, why tell someone to just run there? Sounds like he's trying to get an angle on NE freight that everyone already knows about. And there are reasons ppl don't like running there. I'm sure after awhile it'll wear on you.
Oh... dropping in DE tomorrow morning. Sunday night, 4 lanes northbound on 95, just East of Baltimore; 8 mile backup for an accident that takes the right two lanes (CR England smushed a 4 wheeler). 1.5 hours to get thru, and clear when I get there. Only in the northeast
"If I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don't know." - Kansas
I dont know why he wants me to run strictly northeast. He wants the truck based out of new york city ...yuk. Its got me pretty nervous especially since Ive never been there before. Like I said I have a Garmin i5 and I hope and pray that this will get me through it works real well in my car, dont know what it will be like in the big apple in an expediter. At least expediters are easier to drive around the city. I also dont know why he wants me to run solo especially with little training in expediting. I worked for werner a few months and got around L.A. ok, but only after a lot of trouble. I just have what they call routing anxiety I guess. The other stuff like traffic tolls etc doesnt really bother me, just concerned about getting around. Thanks for the advice hope there is some more.
Tennesseahawk
Veteran Expediter
It might just be me, but the owner sounds greedy. He's putting you in a situation you aren't comfortable with for his own benefit. Seems like he's thinking "since others won't run northeast, I'll find a rookie to do it." I don't like that attitude, if that's what it is. Not a great way to start out in expediting either.
Speaking from personal experience, I can only handle NYC once in awhile; cause I'm so spent and pizzed after the trip, it takes time to wear off. New England is New England, and ya either tolerate it or hate it... I tolerate it.
Should you choose to accept this mission... LOL. You'll get good miles, most likely. And you'll find out real soon if you enjoy the frustration. Many ppl do strictly NE and enjoy it. I wish you well!
"If I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don't know." - Kansas
Speaking from personal experience, I can only handle NYC once in awhile; cause I'm so spent and pizzed after the trip, it takes time to wear off. New England is New England, and ya either tolerate it or hate it... I tolerate it.
Should you choose to accept this mission... LOL. You'll get good miles, most likely. And you'll find out real soon if you enjoy the frustration. Many ppl do strictly NE and enjoy it. I wish you well!
"If I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don't know." - Kansas
I seriously doubt an owner could afford to pay me enough to run strictly the northeast.
As far as routeing, I wouldn't worry too much about it. No sense getting an ulcer before you even get there. Remember, while it is expedited freight, it isn't a dying patient in the back of that thing.
Just a thought, there seem to be alot of fleet owners on here looking for good drivers.
As far as routeing, I wouldn't worry too much about it. No sense getting an ulcer before you even get there. Remember, while it is expedited freight, it isn't a dying patient in the back of that thing.
Just a thought, there seem to be alot of fleet owners on here looking for good drivers.
Thanks guys for the input, Ill probably go ahead and give it my best or look for an experienced team driver to run with so I can learn the ropes. He said I could do this if I wanted to, but he didnt want the hassle of pairing me up with someone as it is too hard to find two peolple that are compatible too much of a headache for him I guess..
>The very first run FedEx CC gave me, straight out of
>orientation, picked up near Pittsburgh and delivered to
>Eagle Outfitters, Union Square, Manhattan. Talk about
>breaking somebody in. I am from the southeast and never
>driven in NY before.
OH MY GOODNESS!!!!! I shuddered when I read your post. Wow!
>orientation, picked up near Pittsburgh and delivered to
>Eagle Outfitters, Union Square, Manhattan. Talk about
>breaking somebody in. I am from the southeast and never
>driven in NY before.
OH MY GOODNESS!!!!! I shuddered when I read your post. Wow!
nightcreacher
Veteran Expediter
Living in Ohio,when I 1st started driving truck, in the 70's,I was in NYC every week,and that was with tractor trailer.
They have a book map of all the boroughs,it's great.
Just remember,most bridges are marked a foot low,12'6" is really 13'6",in fact I was under a 12'4" marked bridge 1st of the week
Just plan what you are going to do,take your time,you will be fine,and running single,north east will keep you busy
They have a book map of all the boroughs,it's great.
Just remember,most bridges are marked a foot low,12'6" is really 13'6",in fact I was under a 12'4" marked bridge 1st of the week
Just plan what you are going to do,take your time,you will be fine,and running single,north east will keep you busy