North East Region

From a prior conversation is the north east region the toughest area to drive in ? What do you ladies and gents think ? Excited to hear these responses

Yes. It is the oldest part of the country and many roads were horse paths and not suited to trucks. If you can drive Boston and New York you can drive anywhere in the US with ease.

From a prior conversation is the north east region the toughest area to drive in ? What do you ladies and gents think ? Excited to hear these responses

For some of us dealing with New York / Jersey attitude is a challenge too. After driving through a hyper congested industrial area now I have to deal with some pimply-faced twerp that sits behind bullet proof glass. Then drive some more before I can rest. There's a reason I prefer to run solo.

I never got experience all the southern and western regions always felt this area was my comfort zone (north east region) and was curious what other driver thought about coming this way !!! You are correct bleemus this area was really never made for the 53 footers but we seem to get it done anyway lol and Rob S you have to love the angry receivers best part of the day thats how you know your in NY/Nj lmao...

Having just left the NE I can honestly say that I wouldn't be upset if I didn't see it ever again! CT, NYC and NJ. It makes me miss the wide open spaces of the Midwest!

Although I didn't run into any mean/rude people. But then again I'm a very nice, upbeat person and people respond to that.

Well, I don't much about other areas, tiny bit of driving in eastern mid-west part. but I've been driving as a new driver in the NE Regional for the last 2 months. I live in PA and driving NE is making me look at real estate listing in Kansas, Oklahoma right now...lol. Kidding.(Kinda)

Anyway, its a challenge, Cruise Control is a Luxury.....I'll give anything sometimes to use cruise control for more than 5 consecutive minutes.....alright I'm exaggerating but not by much....(unless your driving between like 11pm and 5am) in which I do not.....Its tough..lots of construction( one lane travel) lots of traffic jams, lots of hills, lots of congestion, etc. I'll never fall asleep at the wheel thats for sure....Oh and did i mention the really poor condition of the roads, holy cow,....Travel on I-88 in NY for awhile, it will drive you crazy....I couldn't tell you how often my belongings gradually make their way to the floor as im driving....or my drawers fly open, or something will start knocking and I just have to pull over to see what the hell keeps banging around.....Though i'm getting better at pre-securing things before I start driving...so many things have like soft things intermingled with metal and glass type things. Most highways are 2 laners with constant no trucks in left lane so that means when vehicles are coming off the ramps, its constant slow downs or lane changes....Having to drive in a middle lane is such a luxury....

You'll never really be bored....and if your one of those secret phone texters that like to use their phone on the sly alot (not me) you will really be asking for it .....not because of the police, but because of traffic, just when you think its safe to defer your attention from the road somewhat, the NE will snap its fingers at you....

I really don't mind driving in the northeast. I suppose it helps that most DC are right off the major highways. You just need to excercise a little patience. I've driven 95 in Connecticut at all times of the day. My favorite is 4 am...lol. You need to plan, but once you learn where the truck stops are...it becomes easier. hey...its a cupcake compare to Virginia/Washington metro area...at 4 pm.

The roads in the NE are very poor and right now the construction is crazy everyone is paving or expanding the highways... And your right Runinator only time you can use the cruise is at night... backing in the NE is fun too gotta love it

I have made a ton of money in the Northeast. I often find it amusing when I hear people complaining about how hard it is up in this area. It is tough, but what you've got to do is figure out how to run in the region. Make and keep notes of places where you can park - you will need them. I have several customers on my dedicated account I serve that are in Connecticut. I have used their properties as places to park even when I'm delivering to somewhere else. I keep a list of abandoned buildings or shopping centers where I might find some refuge if needed. You just learn to deal with it. I will run my loads at night when possible - that makes a world of difference. There is little to no traffic (sometimes) and you can find parking much easier during those morning hours when you are shutting down for the day. I will run loads out West completely different than I do in the Northeast, you just learn these different parts of the country and drive accordingly so that you can be efficient and profitable.

Sometimes there's just no getting around the problems that are associated with the area though. Take a look at this photo I took just a few nights ago on I-95 in Connecticut. I think it was around 2300 when I was stuck in this traffic.

Welcome to Connecticut - we'll leave the brake lights on for you!

I-95 can be grueling at times up in this area - it is a major artery for the already excessive number of people up there who are trying to get somewhere.

Connecticut is also a beautiful place. Here's a couple of shots I took on that same day as I was taking a walk in Hamden after I made my delivery there.

On this dedicated account I run out of Delhi, Louisiana we send approximately three full truck loads up to Connecticut each week - I'm sure to be on one of them. The great thing about it is that they have to get us right back to Delhi for another load. That is a three thousand mile week easily done each week if you know how to get along up there. My dispatcher puts me on it all the time, because he knows I'll do what it takes to get up there and back in a timely manner - I mean it's a gravy run as far as I'm concerned, yet most of the drivers on our board won't touch it because of the traffic issues. Here I am, the top producer in our group, and I'm the one running the high traffic areas. That is why I say you just have to figure out how to run in that area and you will be fine.

I just picked up my back haul load yesterday from my run up into Connecticut. I had a 1400 mile run to Connecticut, and now my back haul takes me down to Boca Raton, Florida on my way back to Delhi. That is another 2250 miles added on to this week - a 3,650 mile week all because I am willing and able to run up in the Northeast. I' do it every week, and it is lucrative!

OS as usual has hit the nail on the head. Yeah traffic sucks up there and everything but if you do run at night or even an early morning schedule it really isn't too bad except for certain areas. Anywhere around NYC for example is going to be bad no matter what time it is. I love going up there personally because the miles were always really nice.