How intimidating is it driving in the city?
 

On the open road I believe it would be fine. Wide open, don't have to deal with the congestion of traffic flow in the cities. Have time to think things over.

In the city though, big cities like NYC, LA, etc., are you guys intimidated by all of the traffic and not having the time to make a late lane switch, etc? Not to mention all those wide turns you guys would have to make on narrow streets.

When you go into any city whether it be a town of 30,000 or a large metropolitian area, you have to process a lot information in a short period of time. I've been through the LA area on I-5 about 3:00pm and it was like trying to put 50 lbs of shit in a 5 lb bag. I've been within 30 miles of NYC in NJ and that was pretty bad as well. I hate driving in NJ. Some keys to remember when go into larger cities to deliver:
-Make sure you know where you are going before hand (i.e. have the directions and possible call to confirm directions are accurate)
-Consider the time when you will be going there and take that into consideration (i.e. will it be rush hour)

Keep one eye on each mirror, and two eyes straight ahead!! :lol:

And take it slow, and stay out of the far right lane if it's legal to do so.

If you can manage to stay out of Portland, Oregon :x and heed the above advice, you will be fine.

Re: How intimidating is it driving in the city?
 

It's scary.... lotsa cars and big trucks...... :lol: :lol: :lol:

gotta stay ahead of the situation and know where u need to be

...people sometimes wont let u over in a lane if its rush hour

esp NJ

Seriously it can be somewhat nerve racking even at 2 am until you build up your skills and confidence.

The big thing is to try to stay relaxed and focused (so eat your frosted mini-wheats before going in ;) ).

You will hear drivers say this city is bad or that one is the worst to drive in, but how bad a city is to drive in really depends on how well you can adjust to the local driving "style" and how well you can predict what that cities idiots are going to do.

Ihear a lot about how bad new jersey is.....I live hear so I'm used to it... 8) 8) 8)

(love the state,hate the politics.... :? )

and that's the point...the more you do it.......the more you get used to it...

I remember driving a 30 ft stretch limo in NYC 5 days a week.....the first

week was nerve racking.. :shock: :shock: :shock: .... after that it was just annoying... :? :? :? .....and after

that it became second nature :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)




BOL 2 ya...!!!!

Exactly Uturn. I have heard Chicago is the worst, then I hear LA is the worst and so on. Been right thru LA in a car and it wasn't bad to me. Drove like I was in my truck and never had a problem. The only bad spot I saw was the 710 coming out of Long Beach was jammed up and dead stopped no matter what time of day it was. After a trip or two into a big city you should start to pick up on what roads to avoid and when to avoid them.

What he said! It's all about the directions. If you get good directions, the rest is usually pretty harmless.

When was the last time Mr. Mom/uturn drove a big rig in the big city ??

And DON'T get those directions from a GPS either. Actually CALL the customer and ASK someone in the shipping/recieving dept. for directions.

I hear the samething EVER week when I am there. It's easy to get around NJ :D I enjoy going there weekly :D

If you drive OTR, you will hardly ever go into any part of a city that is just that bad. Most of your 'city' experience will either just be driving through on interstate or major highway, where it's all about slow moving traffic. Or in the occasions you do pick up or deliver in a major city, it's often going to be on the outskirts, or easy to access industrial parks. Of course that will depend on what you haul though. Only once did I ever have to actually deliver inside of a major city, and that was a railyard just outside downtown Chicago, and honestly, that was easyer then going to towns like York, PA, or any one of the little crap towns dotting the Northeast!

Never picked up or delivered in Pittsburgh or Philly I take it. Pittsburgh especially does not have many "outskirts" that are industrial.

I've gone through pittsburg a lot, but never picked up or delivered there, however I lived in Philly for a while, so I know it well enough to get around without problems.

Could you please tell me were PITTSBURG. I know were PITTSBURGH is.

Just like I know how to get around PittsburgH very well :wink:

I cyber slap you! :D

How much do you OTR guys get paid to lug them 53' monstrosities around town bumping curbs and pissing everyone off? Oh that's right: $0.00! Mileage pay cuts off at the post office limits. :lol: :lol:

Another one of those "part of the job" things... :lol:

WOW, last time I checked I got paid VERY WELL to deliver into cities. Oh wait, I DON'T DO OTR :lol:

Now that's funny.... :lol: :lol: :lol:

You "were" right about the spelling, except when you were spelling "where" :P

City driving, intimidating? Just make sure you know how to get where you're going, and be aware of your surroundings. Personally, I found the state of Kansas to be more intimidating than the city, because if you missed a turn there, you had a ways to go before you could get turned around.

It is all about attitude and planning. Before you get to the city you need to know where you are going. If you have your directions down then it isn't so difficult to get around.

Sheeeeit LBJ. They're lucky to get the post office limits! HHG doesn't even come close in a lot of cases.

Ah, what the hell. I'm not the one driving for free.

Another one of those "it's a lifestyle" things...

Here we go again...

another OTR vs local thread... :roll:

Re: How intimidating is it driving in the city?
 

Your wrong.

You WILL be fine. But you'll make mistakes, we all do. Its not that big of a deal. I just try to remember what I did wrong and go from there.


The first time in heavy traffic I was scared and everything seemed to be moving really fast. But knowing how to turning and recognize traffic patterns will soon become instinctual. You'll start spotting the yahoos before they cause trouble. Never make quick jerking moments in a truck. If you pay attention to the signs you will RARELY have to make a quick lane changes. In the heavy congested cities I sometimes run in the higher rpms with the jake brake ON and ready. Sucks for MPG, but makes my "having to drive for other people" easier. Some 4 wheelers will cut you off and put on the brakes, SIGH. Mirrors Mirrors Mirrors.

BOL

Everyone here has been giving great advice. It's all about knowing your surroundings, and managing/keeping track of the space around your vehicle.

I remember my first dispatches to NYC and Jersey. Even after contending with Chicago, Philly, Montreal, Canada, etc. I was scared to death. But I took my time, prepared for it by KNOWING where I had to go, and KNOWING how to get there. It wasn't traffic that worried me...

Handling four wheelers in the big city isn't what you need to be afraid of... Just treat them like ANY other four wheeler out ther; Consider the stupidest thing they can do, and prepare for it. It's the low clearances and restricted routes that should be a bigger concern. That's where good trip planning becomes a necessity. Your first stop BEFORE getting into the city should be a truckstop/service center on the outskirts to pick up a local roadmap. Preferrably one with the low clearances marked on it. Use that in conjunction with your atlas, and you should be in good shape to plan an effective route to and from the shipper/consignee.

Also, sliding your tandems up will make it easier getting around corners.

????
 

Edit

Unless you're in the sleeper! :lol: :lol: :lol:

http://www.classadrivers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=34907&am
 

ZiP CodE To ZiPPiE CodE,

Commonly known as Tariff Book miles used by your Big L.D.S Trucking Co's, {Mormon} It's helpful to have Sliding Trailer Axles while in motion, for those hard to get @ Delivery destinations LOL or EXP Which ever comes first LOL. Don't U Know 8) :idea:

Is there an "H" Pat? NO? How about a "B"??? Okay.... I'd like to buy a vowel now. How 'bout an "O"??

Man.... there sure are alot of truckers around here having problems with H's and B's!! :roll:

The heck with "Hooked on Fonics" [Well..... how would YOU spell it?]

Some of y'all need a course in "hunt and peckering!" :P

yawn
 

yawn.............(-__-)

:lol: :lol: (Then you can slap it around like it owes ya money)

I'm a newbie and go to all parts of LA everyweek.

The main thing is to keep your spacing and know where your next exit is.

Make your lane changes way early for your next exit. A GPS only gives you a 1 mile warning when a exit is coming up and that isn't enough time sometimes to be in the correct lane, so know where you need to exit and be in the correct lane way before you need to be.

Be alert for sudden stops, rush hour will go from flying to a dead stop in seconds. Thats why spacing is very important, leave yourself room to back it down when you have to.

TAKE YOUR TIME!!!!!

Exactly Scott! Urban driving is indeed the definition of truck driving. The constant lane changes, four wheeler issues, the need to be consistently on top of all operations is what separates the steering wheel holder from the professional truck driver. Anyone can hold a steering wheel. Only a certain few can make that wheel sing while safely, efficiently and proficiently maneuvering through metropolitan, suburban areas in heavy congestion. OTR simply requires the ability to hold a steering wheel and locate the next truck stop to malinger at.................generally for zero compensation.

Jesus Marimba Belpre, you have my B.S. meter pegged!!!

I have never had my steering wheel sing to me. It must be breathing all that pollution in the city. You seem to have the skills test backward when comparing local to otr. You really feel inferior to the otr drivers. I finally figured out why you would put otr drivers down on EVERY post. You feel less of a driver than the otr guys. Look, you are still driving a truck. It doesn't matter that you don't have to really work to earn your pay like the otr drivers. Shoot, I bet you don't hardly have to know how to drive if you belong to a union. Skills don't seem to matter to the union, only the dues you pay. The union will protect your job no matter how incompetent you may be. I am not saying that you are personally incompetent, but you do have a self esteem problem. You feel threatened or less skilled that the otr drivers. Why else would you feel the need to put otr drivers down in every post. I suppose that is understandable. It take a little more skill to move a load across the country than across town.

who is the fool??

It sounds like the OTR driver to me.

Does your steering wheel sing to you too, Mackman? :roll: