Unbelievable trip to JFK Airport!!!

Streakn1 · Oct 5, 2009

As we were making our way to JFK in Jamaica,NY to deliver an engine Friday, our unbelievable trip began with an irrate NYC cabby pulling directly in front of our truck in the middle of the George Washington Bridge, then slamming on his brakes in an attempt to cause us to rear end him. Then he just sat there and wouldn't move. We ended up having to call 911. This appearently was the result of my refusing to cross a solid white line on the road in front of a cop, as I exited the toll booth so that he could have my lane. The cabby had to slow his cab down and drop in behind me since his lane ended. Guess I really ****ed him off!

Next, as we sat at an airport cargo area to settle in for the weekend, Friday night the docks became so backed up with trucks trying to deliver and pick up loads, tempers began to flare between the local drivers. Things finally escalated to the point that four NYPD showed up with lights and sirens going!

Finally, when we thought it was all over yesterday, while on our way to the airport gate to pick up our engine, two NYC cabs ran into each other in front of us at an intersection that goes to the passenger terminals. The two cabbys immediately jumped out of their cabs and began fist fighting in the middle of the road. Nobody could move because they had the road blocked while they were fighting! they looked like two little girls slapping each other! LOL

Yepper, New York City. The city of friendly, courteous human beings that live in harmony with each other!!! LOL

Yesteryear · Oct 5, 2009

OMG ROFL, who needs entertainment when your a truck driver? Sounds like you had an exciting time. lol

Streakn1 · Oct 5, 2009

Yesteryear said:
OMG ROFL, who needs entertainment when your a truck driver? Sounds like you had an exciting time. lol

Leave it to the wonderful people of NYC to see that the visitors are entertained!!!

moose · Oct 5, 2009

Yes NY'kers are well known for their road rage.
every time i go to that area , i am prepared to protect my rig & driving record .
road rage results in MY actions , and it can be very dangerous .
i will always give way , and will never try to 'get even' or 'educate' a driver .
the most important tool i got is that quick 911 call.
let them 'Pick' on someone else , i can take it and move on .let him get his satisfaction.
i will try to not make an Eye contact , avoid any communication with the offender ,& 'leave my self an out' if all possible .

Streakn1 · Oct 5, 2009

Right there with ya Moose! I probably would have gone ahead and moved over sooner if the cop hadn't been sitting right there on the shoulder watching everyone. But, you're not supposed to cross the solid lines. That cabby knows that, he just didn't care or understand why I held my ground. It wasn't that I was challenging him. Guess he thought otherwise.

pelicn · Oct 5, 2009

Laws of tonnage matter little to NYers. Streakin, it's bad enough going to JFK in a straight truck. We've only made one trip down that way in a T/T and that was enough for me. Hat's off to you both. I agree with the above statements, road rage has no place in traffic like that. I just relax and watch my own little space.

cheri1122 · Oct 5, 2009

But Streak, what happened to the cabbie who shut down in the middle of the GW?

NYC is never boring, lol.

Lawrence · Oct 5, 2009

WOW! If people just had a remote idea of what drivers go through servicing NYC with a commercial truck.

That is just an insane - high level of stress day behind the wheel. Thanks for the post!

Streakn1 · Oct 5, 2009

cheri1122 said:
But Streak, what happened to the cabbie who shut down in the middle of the GW?
NYC is never boring, lol.

Its amazing that even though there was the NYPD cruiser sitting on the shoulder of the bridge (remember the one watching us all come out of the toll booths), he wasn't able to get through traffic stopped on the bridge quick enough before the little coward ran and hid in a sea of cars, trucks,etc.

Thats ok. We gave 911 a discription of his cab (not a yellow cab) and his plate number. Plus I'm sure the new Homeland Security cameras on the bridge caught the whole incident.

Smile, you're on candid camera!!! LOL

Streakn1 · Oct 5, 2009

pelicn said:
Laws of tonnage matter little to NYers. Streakin, it's bad enough going to JFK in a straight truck. We've only made one trip down that way in a T/T and that was enough for me. Hat's off to you both. I agree with the above statements, road rage has no place in traffic like that. I just relax and watch my own little space.

Lawrence said:
WOW! If people just had a remote idea of what drivers go through servicing NYC with a commercial truck.

That is just an insane - high level of stress day behind the wheel. Thanks for the post!

We try relaxing and watching our space. Just our space is much bigger, like almost 80' long and it takes a football field to turn around in!!! LOL

Whats amazing is how the local drivers hit each others trucks and just keep driving like nothing happened.

So, which of you FECC drivers were at the same place we were at JFK Friday through Sunday? We saw ya sneakn in and out! B, D, E, and ER-Units.

CharlesD · Oct 5, 2009

Call me fortunate, but I've never had that much trouble around NYC, other than the usual traffic jams.

moose · Oct 5, 2009

Fortunate...

Jack_Berry · Oct 5, 2009

hey streakin,,,,how about a dash cam plugged into a recorder. then post this stuff on you tube.

TJ959 · Oct 6, 2009

I have only been to NYC once. I decided that it was not worth the money to return EVER. There are too many tolls though the ones you pay to leave seem worth the money. There are so many places you can go for freight in this country and Canada I figured never going back there was no sacrifice..... Did I ever mention, I really don't like to go to New York. No load pays enough to compensate for the irritation.

CharlesD · Oct 6, 2009

TJ959 said:
I have only been to NYC once. I decided that it was not worth the money to return EVER. There are too many tolls though the ones you pay to leave seem worth the money. There are so many places you can go for freight in this country and Canada I figured never going back there was no sacrifice..... Did I ever mention, I really don't like to go to New York. No load pays enough to compensate for the irritation.

The more people who have that attitude, the better for me.

Streakn1 · Oct 6, 2009

Jack_Berry said:
hey streakin,,,,how about a dash cam plugged into a recorder. then post this stuff on you tube.

TJ959 said:
I have only been to NYC once. I decided that it was not worth the money to return EVER. There are too many tolls though the ones you pay to leave seem worth the money. There are so many places you can go for freight in this country and Canada I figured never going back there was no sacrifice..... Did I ever mention, I really don't like to go to New York. No load pays enough to compensate for the irritation.

We are in the process of designing a camera system on our truck for several uses. First, two looking back at the freight on our deck (each side) so that we can monitor securement and tarps between the routine safety stops we do. Secondly, to monitor and record any incidents regarding vehicles (and people) around us. This would be one looking forward and two on each side of the tractor. This will give us full coverage of the rig and surrounding areas.

As you old timers here know, I *****ed a lot about having to go in and out of NYC back in my FECC WG days with this truck and a 48' reefer. Now, just going into JFK to pick up and deliver jet engines is not nearly as bad. All interstate roads to the airport.

Is the money worth the aggrevation? I'll let you be the judge of that. Is it about servicing longtime and loyal customers that not only provide us much freight there but also other locations throughout the country? ABSOLUTELY!!!

Scuba · Oct 6, 2009

You can get outside cameras at walmart that will do the job that you want it to do.

usafk9 · Oct 6, 2009

I am looking to do that very thing, Scuba, but I want 3 cameras: Two in box, and one for backing.

My question: How do I monitor (or switch back and forth) between all 3 without having to have 3 separate monitors?

Any suggestions appreciated.

Sorry for the hijack, streakn.

RLENT · Oct 6, 2009

usafk9 said:
My question: How do I monitor (or switch back and forth) between all 3 without having to have 3 separate monitors?

Get a monitor with multiple, switchable video inputs (mine has two)

Deville · Oct 6, 2009

Streakn1 said:
As we were making our way to JFK in Jamaica,NY to deliver an engine Friday, our unbelievable trip began with an irrate NYC cabby pulling directly in front of our truck in the middle of the George Washington Bridge, then slamming on his brakes in an attempt to cause us to rear end him. Then he just sat there and wouldn't move. We ended up having to call 911. This appearently was the result of my refusing to cross a solid white line on the road in front of a cop, as I exited the toll booth so that he could have my lane. The cabby had to slow his cab down and drop in behind me since his lane ended. Guess I really ****ed him off!

Next, as we sat at an airport cargo area to settle in for the weekend, Friday night the docks became so backed up with trucks trying to deliver and pick up loads, tempers began to flare between the local drivers. Things finally escalated to the point that four NYPD showed up with lights and sirens going!

Finally, when we thought it was all over yesterday, while on our way to the airport gate to pick up our engine, two NYC cabs ran into each other in front of us at an intersection that goes to the passenger terminals. The two cabbys immediately jumped out of their cabs and began fist fighting in the middle of the road. Nobody could move because they had the road blocked while they were fighting! they looked like two little girls slapping each other! LOL

Yepper, New York City. The city of friendly, courteous human beings that live in harmony with each other!!! LOL

Since no one else has said it I will, I'm calling Bull**** on this entire chain of events. I've been driving a truck in NYC for 17 years & I've never seen anything close to what is being described here. I'm in and out of JFK almost daily & have never seen anything that you have described.

Sure there is some yelling at one another & the occasional one finger salute. I have to wonder if all this did happen that perhaps YOU are the prolbem not everyone else.

Also, for all of you that bash NY & it's drivers, if you can't stand the heat than stay out of the kitchen, NYC is the front lines & the Highways & local streets are the trenchs. I have made so much money though out the years because some out of town yahoo is too scared to drive into NYC & informs dispatch that the Fedx terminal in Elizabeth NJ is the closest they will go to NYC. No one ever goes to the one in Newark because they fear getting there thoarts slashed....ok, maybe that is a correct assumption. I don't care I'm heavly insured & go where the freight is.

Anyway, I just wanna say thank you to all you frady cats out there.