Help With A Tough Location

I’m headed to Newark NJ to deliver a load of dead cow to a location that looks difficult to me. The customer is Cibao Provisions, 291 Hawthorne Ave., Newark.

It looks to me like I’ll have to back in to their very small receiving area from the street. I plan to call ahead of time to ask them for their advice, but I wondered if anyone here could pull up the satellite view of this address and tell me how they would handle this delivery. Appt time is Monday 0600. Thanks!

Looking at street view in addition to the reviews it looks like they either have you pull it to the back and unload it from the street using a forklift or back a box truck to your tail and unload that way.

Correction by "You" I mean the warehouse staff, based on the electric palletjack at the rear of trailer on street, which I assume will be lifted up to pull pallets to tail.

Bruce, I'm not sure you're gonna have to back into the dock. The street view shows a big truck parked along the curb, and they're unloading it with a power jack. Otherwise, I'd arrive by 5:30, heading east, pull past the entrance, and back in on the driver's side. Yeah, keep your eyes on traffic in both directions, but at 5:30 there shouldn't be much to worry about. The entrance doesn't seem very wide, that's why I'd back in from the driver's side. And do it quickly.

Bruce, I'm not sure you're gonna have to back into the dock. The street view shows a big truck parked along the curb, and they're unloading it with a power jack. Otherwise, I'd arrive by 5:30, heading east, pull past the entrance, and back in on the driver's side. Yeah, keep your eyes on traffic in both directions, but at 5:30 there shouldn't be much to worry about. The entrance doesn't seem very wide, that's why I'd back in from the driver's side. And do it quickly.

Disregard my comment... posted it late... What Rob said.

I've done two of these "street unloads" in the past week. Both were for contractors. One was in downtown Portland, OR and the other was just off the strip in Las Vegas.

have you pull it to the back and unload it from the street using a forklift or back a box truck to your tail and unload that way.

In the LTL world that's called a "tailgate delivery" driver brings it to the rear of the trailer and it is upto the receiver to get it off. If they can't, you leave and charge a bunch of money to come back with a lift gate.

Hey guys, thanks a lot for the input. I feel better about this now due to your comments and advice.

I got 713 miles done today and only have 568 to do tomorrow, so I will be able to get there early when traffic is light. Tried to call the customer but so far I only get their machine. Also, this is the first stop of two stops on this assignment. What you guys think will happen makes sense because I only have 5 pallets out of 20 on the truck being offloaded at this customer. The wonderful part is that once again I was blessed to be able to travel on I70 through Indiana on that silky smooth road surface. (What an abomination.)

Getting the valuable responses I did makes me really appreciate the guys and gals on the forum even more. What a great resource for any driver wanting guidance from experienced and highly skilled professionals. When I complete this delivery I will post a report about my experience.

Like a lot of things in life, the anticipation is worse than the reality. I made this delivery without any problems except the usual difficulties of close quarter maneuvering in areas like this.

Last night I parked at a little shabby truck stop about 44 miles west of Newark. But at least it had open space and it was quiet. Got on the road at 0300 for my 0600 appointment. A little early but I’d rather be early than late. Got down to the customer and parked on the street about a block away. About 0545 I walked up to their building and they took my papers and told me to stay where I was at and they would unload me there. I was parked in front of a church, so I guess this was sort of a religious experience for me. About 15 minutes later a guy with a box truck backed up to my trailer and unloaded me with a pallet jack into his truck. I was done at 0645. It was much more difficult getting out of there back to I78 than it was getting there. Morning commute traffic was already heating up plus there are several large schools along the way. Needless to say, I was not a very popular guy in that neighborhood. Then I had my final delivery to Costco about 36 miles south at 0900. Morning rush hour is so much fun on 195 near NYC. But I made it to Costco at 0820.

Thanks for all the valuable advice I got on this trip. If I never visit New Jersey again, I will be a happy man.

Glad it was pretty painless Bruce. I hope the traffic lights were nicer to you, I caught every red light on my way out of Newark last night. Like you, I'm in no rush to return.