NYC, 95, Expediters

BigBusBob

Veteran Expediter
Driver
Just got back from a Multi-day tour with tour bus of NYC, and Hershey, PA. I noticed about 8 FedEx Custom Critical White Glove rigs goin' south on 95 outa NJ/NY area on Weds. while PII rigs seemed to be almost equal in number, the types of rigs were smaller that I saw with PII. White Glove rigs were fully decked out... LiftGate/Reefers of course, and large sleepers and beefy lookin' rigs... all were straight trucks. PII I saw had some vans, and some straight trucks, but the straight trucks I saw with PII were smaller and didn't look to be able to accomodate nearly as much as the FedEx rigs could. This was just my observation - not knockin' either co., just seemed like FedEx was handling more heavy and specialty stuff than PII was.

I noticed once I got north of Baltimore area I really began to notice the expediter rigs. That was surprising, but it was a Weds. (last week) when I was makin' my way north.

There was talk in another post of NYC and the talk again came up about tunnels and Parkways.

Perhaps there should be signs posted at all fuel islands north of Richmond, and east of Cleveland about the restrictions in NYC.

As a driver who frequents NYC on a fairly regular basis, I can tell you for a fact that expediter straight trucks are not allowed in Tunnels. HazMat loads are not allowed in Tunnels in NYC - that should be kinda self explanatory there. I had to laugh when I went into the Holland Tunnel last week and saw a Swift truck (18 wheeler) being backed out of a toll booth. Apparently he thought the big signs that say "No Commercial Vehicles" must be for everybody else, not Swift trucks.That cop was goin' up 1 side of that driver and down the other! Imagine the msg that came across to dispatch at Swift from that truck? I bet they're still laughing and talkin' about it.

No Commercial vehicles are allowed on Parkways in NYC area's.... including passenger tour busses. City Transit busses can go on 'em, but not me.

I was able to sneak onto FDR drive briefly, then got off on Amsterdam by GWB. The exit I got off was fine, until I encountered a broke down mini-van. Lucky Me! People started goin' up over the brick curb and goin' around him... like 6 cars - until I was basically the only one around. There was about 4 cars of space between this mental midget and me. There was no place for me to go to - at 45 foot, and one lane? Do the math. it's not a fair equation.
Thankfully he got it started and trucked on.

Yes, I was way up there. I'd never really gone past 125th while touring in Manhatten, but this time I decided to try it out. I went all the way up to 188th I think it was. Not too bad, I know I was probably not supposed to go onto FDR with a tour bus, but I've seen the transit busses on there when I've crossed the Manhatten brigde, and some of them are just as tall as me. I'm 11'11". I never did see any signs saying "No Commercial Vehicles", I did see signs saying "No Trucks". I saw many clearence signs, and will say that many places up near FDR say something like 12'6" clearence or less.
Well, I figure I've done it this time, so next time I'll try it out again on FRD and see how far I can get.

New discovery in NYC:
Cheyenne Diner on 9th and 33rd... good place to eat.

Also, you might get a chance to see part of a bus in a scene on the next episode of "Rescue Me" on TV... I kinda went thru one of their filming takes... hope they didn't edit it - it was cool. also kinda bumped into their movie trailer during a tight right turn, no worries, it'll buff right out. Maybe next time they won't park their stunt car (Mustang) at the corner.

Also, if in Hershey, PA area, try a place called "Soda Jerk", it's about 15 min. or less from Hershey, PA. Good food, truck parkin' in back. enter driveway carefully, nearly deads (old people) there don't look when backing out.

That's all for now, Later, Bob
 

cheri1122

Veteran Expediter
Driver
"NO worries - it'll buff right out" If they got you on film saying that, everyone in America could be ROFL:7 I'm so glad you're back with your tour narratives, & inside info on where to go, what to see there, where to park, etc.:)
 

redytrk

Veteran Expediter
Charter Member
<I saw many clearence signs, and will say that many places up near FDR say something like 12'6" clearence or less.>

Those low clearance signs in New York scare the poop out of me. At 12`8" a sign showing 12`6" makes me squirm. Even though the locals assure me you have another foot(Unless marked EXACT).
 

davekc

Senior Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
Short of the buff job, it sounds like an awesome trip.






Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator
 

greg334

Veteran Expediter
Hey Bob,
Thanks for this and the HOS post.

These two are ones that I printed off and put into my little (bulging) folder of EO info.
 

Deville

Not a Member
Nice post, As far as the Tunnels go my truck is almost 13"2 and I fit into the Lincoln tunnel just make it actually! as long as you dont set the alarms off at the toll Plaza you are good to go.........Havent been though the Holland in years, used to be able to get 12'6 trucks in there maybe slightly higher, used to see flatbed tractor trailers go in and out quite often.

As far as the FDR goes thats a dicey area, usually those buses take the center lanes, as the vridges are very low on the right hand side I've seen some buses get opened up like sardine cans from being too high

O yea all those white Glove trucks you saw coming out of jersey going south on 95, 90% of those trucks were hauling Pzier loads out of parsaipany and maybe morris Plains, Pzier is now an all white glove account. Real nice, they wanted teams on the trucks to avoid theft and from what i understand they are still getting hi-jacked.


SMILE LIKE YOU MEAN IT!
 
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