Traveling into and through New York City can be quite frustrating for trucking companies, especially those pulling 53-foot semitrailers.

Earlier this month, Bob Hirsch, president of the Truckload Carriers Assn., and several other industry representatives, met with representatives of the city's Department of Transportation.
Joining Hirsch were Bill Joyce, president of the New York State Motor Truck Assn., Gail Toth, executive director of the New Jersey Motor Truck Assn., and Joe Hart, vice president for legislative affairs of the American Trucking Assns.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss a route study recently undertaken by the city, as well as the industry's concerns regarding truck routing. Those concerns include the city's prohibition and ticketing of 53-foot semitrailers.
The June 12 meeting was a follow-up to an April 3 hearing previously attended by Hirsch and Joyce in response to a proposed city ordinance that would have ticketed truckers that failed to carry a map of the city's truck routes. As a result of that hearing, Joyce was appointed to a "technical advisory committee" looking into truck routing within and through the city.
"The meeting was a positive first step toward addressing the issues once and for all," Hirsch said. "The city should be commended for recognizing the importance of trucking to the city's economy and citizens. We also applaud the city's willingness to sit down rather than simply saying 'if you don't like it, sue us.'" Hirsch said the next scheduled meeting is in August.