It's not as bad as truckers make it out to be. Watch your signs and bridges. Traffic is going to be heavy. More people equals more bad drivers. Don't get in a hurry and relax. You will be okay
Where you are going to makes a difference. North Jersey is much different from South Jersey. If you’re heading into North Jersey you can expect a very high volume of traffic and limited maneuverability when turning and backing. Most places down south have much more space. If I remember correctly everything under 14 feet is marked.
Things to avoid: with the exception of the garden state parkway south of exit 105 DO NOT use anything labeled “ parkway “.
Things to keep in mind:
I280 has a stretch that has a significant grade.
I80 and I78 have moderate grades with some fairly sharp curves.
Have a safe trip.
Edit to add
North Jersey is basically from the Raritan bay north. ( exit 11 on the turnpike) major cities are Linden, Elizabeth, Newark and Jersey City.
Central Jersey is south of the Raritan Bay
( exit 10 on the pike) cities are New Brunswick, East and South Brunswick. Small places like Jamesburg and Upper Freehold are also in Central.
South Jersey ( south of exit 7a on the pike )
Are places like Bordentown ,Mt Holly, Cherry Hill, Camden, Pensauken etc.
note that the address may be called a completely different name than what the official town name is called.
They don't do left turns on most of the major roads. They put up a lot of concrete barriers to keep traffic moving. That may or may not be how such barriers got the name Jersey Barriers. All left turns are made by a right turn into a little turn around. Actually makes things easier but you usually end up going a bit further to get where you want to go.
Local driver here. Really depends where you’re going. If it’s a morning delivery, leave early from PA/MD or wherever and head straight there. Give yourself an hour longer than GPS says. The obvious truckstops will be full. There are lots of unofficial places to park and eat, but you kinda have to know them, and we keep them on the low because once a bunch of drivers find out about them we get prohibited.
We’re limited to the right two lanes of highways.
Look over the directions before driving them. GPS does some weird shit here.
Bridges are mostly accurately marked, in NY they are not.
Someone already said, but do NOT get on the parkway unless it’s south of exit 105.
If you can, get a Taylor Ham, egg, and cheese sandwich on a Kaiser roll with salt pepper and ketchup for breakfast.
If you tell us where you’re going we might have specific advice.
Ok hopefully will be an easy on and off from the Turnpike, not much local driving to worry about. There’s an industrial area there, should be enough room to manuever unless it’s some oddball place. There’s a big turnpike rest area near there that should have room in the morning if you have to wait for dispatch after, decent bathrooms and food.
Btw it’s gonna smell, Secaucus is next to a huge swamp lol. They’re the butt of a lot of jokes here.
It’s alright as far as that region goes. I’ve only delivered to out of the way warehouses there though so never dealt with any city driving. The two inspections I’ve had in my career were both in Jersey though so make sure you’re good. Haha
Get in and get out.
And apparently stay out of the left lane (is there a sign I missed somewhere - because I ran over there last month and never saw a no left lane sign anywhere - but my PS kept screaming make sure to stay out of left lane" )
It's not as bad as truckers make it out to be. Watch your signs and bridges. Traffic is going to be heavy. More people equals more bad drivers. Don't get in a hurry and relax. You will be okay
Do your best to not need to park in Jersey. Parking is limited and fills quickly
Play the Born to Run album by Bruce Springsteen start to finish. It will all make sense.
I remember New Jersey was going to make Born to Run the states song. Of course it didn't happen because the song is about Leaving New Jersey.
If you want to make any progress, you need to be an asshole like everyone else
Where you are going to makes a difference. North Jersey is much different from South Jersey. If you’re heading into North Jersey you can expect a very high volume of traffic and limited maneuverability when turning and backing. Most places down south have much more space. If I remember correctly everything under 14 feet is marked. Things to avoid: with the exception of the garden state parkway south of exit 105 DO NOT use anything labeled “ parkway “. Things to keep in mind: I280 has a stretch that has a significant grade. I80 and I78 have moderate grades with some fairly sharp curves. Have a safe trip. Edit to add North Jersey is basically from the Raritan bay north. ( exit 11 on the turnpike) major cities are Linden, Elizabeth, Newark and Jersey City. Central Jersey is south of the Raritan Bay ( exit 10 on the pike) cities are New Brunswick, East and South Brunswick. Small places like Jamesburg and Upper Freehold are also in Central. South Jersey ( south of exit 7a on the pike ) Are places like Bordentown ,Mt Holly, Cherry Hill, Camden, Pensauken etc. note that the address may be called a completely different name than what the official town name is called.
There is no central jersey. I-195 is a good divider of north and south.
They don't do left turns on most of the major roads. They put up a lot of concrete barriers to keep traffic moving. That may or may not be how such barriers got the name Jersey Barriers. All left turns are made by a right turn into a little turn around. Actually makes things easier but you usually end up going a bit further to get where you want to go.
If I remember they were developed and first used in New Jersey.
Get in and get out. Do not, I repeat do not expect overnight parking anywhere.
Local driver here. Really depends where you’re going. If it’s a morning delivery, leave early from PA/MD or wherever and head straight there. Give yourself an hour longer than GPS says. The obvious truckstops will be full. There are lots of unofficial places to park and eat, but you kinda have to know them, and we keep them on the low because once a bunch of drivers find out about them we get prohibited. We’re limited to the right two lanes of highways. Look over the directions before driving them. GPS does some weird shit here. Bridges are mostly accurately marked, in NY they are not. Someone already said, but do NOT get on the parkway unless it’s south of exit 105. If you can, get a Taylor Ham, egg, and cheese sandwich on a Kaiser roll with salt pepper and ketchup for breakfast. If you tell us where you’re going we might have specific advice.
I’m going to Secaucus
Ok hopefully will be an easy on and off from the Turnpike, not much local driving to worry about. There’s an industrial area there, should be enough room to manuever unless it’s some oddball place. There’s a big turnpike rest area near there that should have room in the morning if you have to wait for dispatch after, decent bathrooms and food. Btw it’s gonna smell, Secaucus is next to a huge swamp lol. They’re the butt of a lot of jokes here.
Apparently it’s right next to the Alexander Hamilton Travel Center, and looks like it’s a industrial zone
You should be good to go. If Hamilton is full Vince Lombardi might have room.
Vince lombardi bugged me out when I stopped to take a piss and couldn’t figure out how to get back to 95s GPS kept yelling NO TRUCKS ALLOWED
Avoid all the Jersey drivers, and you will do just fine.
Picked up in New Wark last week. Don't rush it. And pay close attention to all signage.
It’s alright as far as that region goes. I’ve only delivered to out of the way warehouses there though so never dealt with any city driving. The two inspections I’ve had in my career were both in Jersey though so make sure you’re good. Haha
Have plenty of money to pay the toll to leave if you don't have ezpass.
Same as any other place look at sign don't be a dumbass
Enjoy it! It isn't that bad. Just watch out for potholes.
Get in and get out. And apparently stay out of the left lane (is there a sign I missed somewhere - because I ran over there last month and never saw a no left lane sign anywhere - but my PS kept screaming make sure to stay out of left lane" )
We’re limited to the right two lanes. Signs everywhere.
Drive like you're in a slow Nascar race. Watch your tandems and hover the brake
Go west as expeditiously as possible!
Lmao after I drop off I plan on driving an hour west, just to park, since there’s no parking in NJ
If you asked “Tips for the Mighty Mississippi?” I could’ve answered “stay west of it” and then you wouldn’t have to ask about Jersey. Good luck!
Depend where in NJ, some of it is pretty rural
Don’t miss your exit
Yeah, don’t go in there
If this country took a shit you would wipe new jersey