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.

 

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

 

NYCDOT - NYC Truck Routes

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

Mountain oysters are good eatin!

 

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.

 

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.

 

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