Load to Brooklyn, NY Advice?

[jeff1981]

I'm going from Creston, OH to Brooklyn, NY- any advice?
Route given to me is as follows:

80E to 287S to 24E to 78E
NJ Turnpike (95?) South to Goethals Bridge
278 toward Staten Island and Brooklyn
Pass Manhattan Bridge (No idea what this means)
Get off at Metropolitan, straight off ramp about 2 blocks to traffic light.
Right at light onto Metropolitan Ave. Go 7-8 blocks to traffic light at Morgan Ave.
Consignee is at corner of Morgan and Metropolitan-

They said to turn right on Morgan, then keep turning left until back on Metropolitan with shippers gates on Left side. Park along right side of Metropolitan, go to sleep and consignee will wake in AM to back into dock.

Has anybody been in this area, and do these directions make sense? How safe is this neighborhood, and how hard is it to maneuver in that area with a 250" wheelbase truck and 48' reefer? Any other advice for this area? I have done the cross bronx, throgs neck, and LIE, but never into Brooklyn or Staten Island before.

[freebirdrfd]

On 278 ( the brooklyn-queens expressway) you will go underneath the ramps for the brooklyn and manhattan bridges, DO NOT worry about the hight signs. You will fit just fine with a 13'6". you should be fine in that area as long as you follow your directions. STAY ON THE TRUCK ROUTE. that whole area ( morgan ave, mecker ave, metropolitan ave) isn't bad for trucks. just take your time and pay attention. The neighborhood is just as safe as in any other big city, i used to deliver in that area and never had a problem. Let us know how you make out. DO NOT idle in N.Y.C.

[GMAN]

I'm going from Creston, OH to Brooklyn, NY- any advice?
Route given to me is as follows:

80E to 287S to 24E to 78E
NJ Turnpike (95?) South to Goethals Bridge
278 toward Staten Island and Brooklyn
Pass Manhattan Bridge (No idea what this means)
Get off at Metropolitan, straight off ramp about 2 blocks to traffic light.
Right at light onto Metropolitan Ave. Go 7-8 blocks to traffic light at Morgan Ave.
Consignee is at corner of Morgan and Metropolitan-

They said to turn right on Morgan, then keep turning left until back on Metropolitan with shippers gates on Left side. Park along right side of Metropolitan, go to sleep and consignee will wake in AM to back into dock.

Has anybody been in this area, and do these directions make sense? How safe is this neighborhood, and how hard is it to maneuver in that area with a 250" wheelbase truck and 48' reefer? Any other advice for this area? I have done the cross bronx, throgs neck, and LIE, but never into Brooklyn or Staten Island before.

You don't need to get on the NJ Turnpike (I-95). From I-80E take I-287S to 140 (I believe) to 278. Just follow the signs toward Staten Island. Prepare for heavy traffic.

[Double R]

You don't need to get on the NJ Turnpike (I-95). From I-80E take I-287S to 140 (I believe) to 278. Just follow the signs toward Staten Island. Prepare for heavy traffic.

It's 440.

And you just sent him across the Outer Bridge.

Jeff, just follow the directions that you have. Seems to be the right way.

[freebirdrfd]

It's 440.

And you just sent him across the Outer Bridge.

Jeff, just follow the directions that you have. Seems to be the right way.

CORRECT, just follow your directions. there is no need to go over the outer bridge crossing (aka 440 ).

[freebirdrfd]

Map of New York, NY by MapQuest I hope this helps you

[jeff1981]

Thank you all for your advice. Freebird, I'm glad my directions sound good- if all goes well I may start doing this weekly. I have always avoided NYC, but this load pays insanely well, and in this economy beggars can't be choosers.

As to the neighborhood, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't going into some horribly dangerous war zone. I've been in Chicago plenty of times w/o problems, but have heard plenty of horror stories about drivers being hijacked in NYC.

Again, thank you all for your time.

Jeff

[GMAN]

It's 440.

And you just sent him across the Outer Bridge.

Jeff, just follow the directions that you have. Seems to be the right way.

Thanks for clariflying the road, Double R. That goes through Brooklyn. He will have to pay an extra toll on I-95 if he hits the turnpike. I usually go on out on the island when I am up there.

[freebirdrfd]

Just pay attention. it's not "too" bad of a neighborhood. remember that you can make it under the over hang by the bridges on 278 (you will see what i mean ). the height signs are not accurate. I used to run N.Y.C. ( manhattan, bronx and brooklyn ) 3-4 times a week for many years and only had 1 problem ( i had 200lbs of scallops stolen out the back doors while i was stopped ). don't forget to bring your new york city attitude with you. nice guys finish last in the big city. It will be fine

[GMAN]

I used to run N.Y.C. ( manhattan, bronx and brooklyn ) 3-4 times a week for many years and only had 1 problem ( i had 200lbs of scallops stolen out the back doors while i was stopped ). don't forget to bring your new york city attitude with you. nice guys finish last in the big city. It will be fine :cool;

That is a lot of scallops. They must have had a big party planned. You were pretty lucky not to have lost more than 200 pounds of scallops over several years.

[freebirdrfd]

That is a lot of scallops. They must have had a big party planned. You were pretty lucky not to have lost more than 200 pounds of scallops over several years.

It was 2 boxes, i watched him in the mirror walk down the street with one on each shoulder like he owned them. Who was i to stop him? They don't call it the brownsville section of brooklyn for nothing . they used to leave a truck parked in the street so that i could back up against it.I wasn't backed up close enough to the truck behind me and he took advantage of it.

[vavega]

that's the best way to go jeff, going the "bottom" the toll on the turnpike is only for 2 exits and isn't much. going the "top" you'll have to pay the gw and the triboro.

once you get over the verrazano camp out in the middle lane so you won't have to merge back over at cadman plaza. that's also the over hang that freebird is talking about. ignore having to get off at atlantic! then you can just ease through there without having to worry about your lane ending.

if you put morgan ave. and metropolitan into google maps and do street view, it will show you the building with the docks out front. i've been past it a million times but never delivered there. metropolitan was my short cut from maspeth back out to the bqe. going around the block at morgan sets you up to back in on the right side. they'll come out and stop traffic for you when it's your turn to back in.

HTH

[wsyrob]

NYCDOT - NYC Truck Routes

[jeff1981]

that's the best way to go jeff, going the "bottom" the toll on the turnpike is only for 2 exits and isn't much. going the "top" you'll have to pay the gw and the triboro.

once you get over the verrazano camp out in the middle lane so you won't have to merge back over at cadman plaza. that's also the over hang that freebird is talking about. ignore having to get off at atlantic! then you can just ease through there without having to worry about your lane ending.

if you put morgan ave. and metropolitan into google maps and do street view, it will show you the building with the docks out front. i've been past it a million times but never delivered there. metropolitan was my short cut from maspeth back out to the bqe. going around the block at morgan sets you up to back in on the right side. they'll come out and stop traffic for you when it's your turn to back in.

HTH

Great Info, thanks! I'm hoping that when I leave I can just make a left out of the consignee and go under BQE, then another left to get back on the way I came in. Google maps doesn,t tell me if I can fit under the BQE on Metropolotin though. I'm not used to parking on the street like that overnight, but they tell me this is the normal procedure there, so i guess NYPD will leave me alone as long as i don't idle.
Again, thanks for the info, makes me feel much safer about this load.
Jeff

[GMAN]

The consignee should know whether there are any low over passes where you can't fit. Some of those over passes are marked for 12'6" or so but you can still get through. Some of the low clearances are for the sides of an over pass. Just be aware and you will be fine. Just remember that you cannot go on any of the parkways in New York. If you go out over the GW you won't have to pay a toll. If you take the bridge out of Brooklyn I believe the toll is now up to $58. Those tolls are ridiculous. When you pay your toll going in you might ask them at the toll booth for a card that has all the rates on bridges around the city. When I go up there I usually come out on the GW so that I don't have to pay the hefty toll.

[Sabine]

Dude, I feel for you. I used to pick up every week about another mile down the road from there. Right hand turns off Metropolitan are next to impossible during the day. I know exactly where you are going, and boy, I really feel for you.

It's about 2 blocks past the white castle. The streets are tight there, very congested. If at all possible come in before rush hour. After rush hour that area is a mad house.

By the way, its easier if you take the McGuinness exit if going east on 278. If going west it's the Meeker exit. Follow the service road to Vandervoort. Make a right on it. This is if you were going east. If you came from the west just make a left on Vandervoort at the bottom of the ramp. Go to the end (Grand), make a right. Take the second right on Catherine, they will be on right before street dead ends into Metropolitan.

Here are a couple of reasons why this is easier. First, it is easier to get on Vandervoort. More generous then getting on Metropolitan. Vandervoort is wider and much less traveled than Metropolitan. Last but not least, Grand is a 4 lane where you turn, so more space again.

If you got to go there again, trust me on this, I went that way every week for almost 2 years. Hope this helps.

[Jackrabbit379]

That is a lot of scallops. They must have had a big party planned. You were pretty lucky not to have lost more than 200 pounds of scallops over several years.

Mountain oysters are good eatin!

[Mallaien]

I have a habit of checking the delivery point using google earth. There is nothing like getting a decent birds eye satellite photo of the area your getting yourself into.

They also have a street view option in all major cities, this might be a great tool to see a photo of a underpass that you may come across, at least you will be able to read the clearance sign.

Google earth is a free program, and it has saved me a ton of hassle on delivery's. There are some cases there the Shipping and receiving dock are actually on a different road from the address, this is another thing you can discover ahead of time long before you get there. Its become a invaluable tool for me in trip planning.

One note.. Always check the date of the satellite Photograph its usually on the bottom left hand side, some shots can be out of date by 5 years.

[vavega]

omg jeff..i'm sorry! for some reason i thought you would be all right to get out, it's just a matter of going back down metropolitan, under the bqe, (no problem with clearance), making a left on marcy, and then the on ramp is on your left.

if you are going to take this load consistently and want a short cut to get back out to the LIE to go east let me know.

[jeff1981]

Thank you all very much for your help. Vavega, your directions were perfect. The place I delivered was a bit difficult to back into, as the parking lot is only a few feet longer than my truck and trailer, but the guys working the dock are familiar with this problem, and were great help getting backed in. I had to pull up twice, but all in all not bad for a guy who usually pulls a flatbed around in the countryside, lol. I was pleasently suprised at how easy it was to deal with the people. NYC has a reputation as being a rough town, and i was kinda nervous about that, but I had no trouble at all.

I have to say that tight clearance is an understatement for the BQE and Brooklyn in general. That part of the city was NOT intended for road trucks! Even with a 48' trailer i felt like i was HUGE in there!

All in all, no troubles. Mostly due to the good advice I got here. I have to say that I have found one old adage true over and over in this business: Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance!

Again, thanks everyone.

Jeff