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June 5, 2009
moving permits?
Hello,
My wife and I are moving to Brooklyn at the end of June from LA. I am wondering about the need for moving permits/costs, both for large 53 ft. rigs (our moving company's truck) to enter NYC (I imagine through Holland Tunnel) and to park in Brooklyn. We are looking to move into Prospect Park, Park Slope or Fort Greene neighborhoods. I have read both that parking permits are not needed, and that parking permits are needed. I have also read parking is not possible, and that the movers will have to park in NJ or something and van/shuttle over our stuff. Finally my mover is saying there may be some sort of charge for a large truck to even enter New York. Has anyone heard of this? Anyone out there move from the west coast to Brooklyn, and have to deal with these sorts of issues?
Many thanks,
N.
Comments
Parking is difficult but you don't need a permit for a van or pantechnicon. The important thing to find out is what days there is alternate side parking at your destination: it differs by street &/or community & it's really helpful to move on a day when your side of the street is clear.
Beyond the normal toll calculated by axles, I don't know of any surcharge for driving a truck into town. The route is determined by height of vehicle.
Posted by: Arkady at June 5, 2009 2:00 PM
You won't have to shuttle stuff between NJ or CT or elsewhere and Brooklyn (that's crazy). Companies get freight into and out of Brooklyn all the time, we even have some (tho waning) industry left that relies on multi-axle trucking or over-the road freight.
Good luck with the move.
Posted by: Brooklyn11218 at June 5, 2009 2:16 PM
Commercial vehicles are not allowed into Manhattan via the the Holland Tunnel nor can they go over the Brooklyn Bridge. The same as you can't drive on a Parkway. But a commercial mover would know what is permitted and should know how to drive and deliver into a city. It's their job and why you pay them.
Let them take care of the move. And welcome to Brooklyn
Posted by: oldtimer at June 5, 2009 2:23 PM
All this is ridiculous, there are no permits needed. See Arkady re alternate side parking tho.
How the truck enters Brooklyn will be determined by the height of the rig, not the length. Generally moving vans are 13'6" high. However vehicles with 4 or more axles are prohibited from the Holland Tunnel, and if 13'6" high could not get thru any tunnel. Most likely he'll come across the GWB then Manhattan Bridge if he's coming across Route 80.
Commercial vehicles are not allowed to park overnight on-street, that may be what is confusing him.
But any trucker who will be driving cross-country will know these things or will know how to find out.
Posted by: denton at June 5, 2009 2:35 PM
There are several different types of restrictions you're looking at -
)General "Commercial Vehicle" restrictions. For your purposes, these include restrictions on using the Holland Tunnel and Brooklyn Bridge. These also include the fact that it is illegal to park a commercial vehicle pretty much anywhere on the streets of New York City overnight (9pm-5am).
)Restrictions on vehicles over 48'. Up to 53' is legal, but there are additional restrictions on vehicles between 48' and 53'-
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/motorist/sizewt.shtml
)Restrictions on making corners. Depending on where you are moving, the semi may not be physically able to make the turn to get onto your block, or they may be a very specific route to get on to your block.
)Parking - as other have mentioned, once the trucks get on your block, where will they park? If they double park, will vehicles be able to get past? You can always attempt to hold parking yourself, or, if you're creative, make your own "NO PARKING TODAY" signs.
However, if you're paying someone to move you, these sound like issues for them, not you. Tell them the delivery address, and tell them you expect them to figure it out.
David
Posted by: intheheights at June 5, 2009 2:36 PM
I have no idea--I do have a vague memory of seeing huge moving trucks in NYC, but I may be imagining it.
If your moving company doesn't know, call another one. I mean, this has got to be a known issue, and part of their job is dealing with it. Call an East Coast moving company if you have to, right? Why couldn't they handle an LA to NYC move, and they certainly know the rules. And it's really their job to figure this out. And now, having confessed I know nothing, I still need to say shuttling things over in vans sounds crazy to me.
Here's a good page for you:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/motorist/trucks.shtml
Posted by: bkrules at June 5, 2009 2:49 PM
LOcal precincts will also give out no parking signs for moves to keep spaces clear. I have found that people ignore them.
Posted by: Putnamdenizen at June 5, 2009 3:16 PM
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/motorist/oversize.shtml
If you're coming all the way from California you ought to be able to avoid the Holland Tunnel.
Posted by: serpentor at June 5, 2009 3:19 PM
Yes, I have moved from California and North Carolina into New York. Intrastate moving companies are wise to these issues, and they may switch to a smaller truck before entering the city. They may also get a parking ticket, but that is not your problem.
One of our movers parked a giant truck that took up almost the whole block at 11 at night. One of the drivers in the car behind yelled "You can't do that! This is Brooklyn!" The men just laughed and the cars went down another street.
Posted by: mopar at June 5, 2009 4:42 PM
You can't really depend on truckers knowing what to do. I've seen too many trucks stuck under parkway overpasses, with the tops of their trailers peeled off, to have any confidence in their knowledge or common sense.
Posted by: Bob Marvin at June 5, 2009 4:55 PM
53'trailers are not permitted in Manhattan. Period. 45' and 40' are. Trucks will come over the GW and go to the BQE via the RFK bridge. I work for a van line and trust me, the driver will not know, but will call a local agent for directions. As long as the subway near your house is not elevated, you can get almost anywhere in Brooklyn.
Posted by: Windsor Terror at June 5, 2009 8:24 PM
Don't pay attention to these A'holes. I have your permits in hand. Meet me at the Vince Lombardi rest stop men's room with a $1000 in a brown envelope. I'll guide you in.
Posted by: modsquad at June 5, 2009 11:41 PM
Given the reputation of the Vince Lombardi rest stop, I think the going rate is 25 bucks for services rendered there.
Posted by: Putnamdenizen at June 6, 2009 10:30 AM
When I moved from SF, the only concern I had was whether the movers would destroy anything, not what the logistics were. Agree, this seems like helicopter parenting of a move.
Posted by: cmu at June 6, 2009 12:34 PM
do you have a place to move yet?
If not, just have them move everything to a storage facility. Staten Island is cheaper for that sort of thing, and they'll be able to get everything over when you're ready.
Also, I'd be really impressed if someone could move by universal shipping container. It seems like a shipping container by rail would be the most effective method.
Posted by: slick at June 6, 2009 2:10 PM
Thanks all for the advice and links-they help alot. I agree it's certainly the mover's job to know this stuff, but if any of you've read the "mover's scam" types web sites out there, you quickly discover mover's don't always know what they're doing and/or talking about, and no mover is squeaky-clean. Thus I wanted to make sure I acquaint myself with the legal specifics in the worst-case scenario that the movers attempt to charge a bill significantly more than their quote at the Brooklyn-end of the trip, claiming "permit fees" or something. Because I have a limited budget, my concern is not just if they'll break anything, but if they're going to charge me fees thinking I don't know any better.
Thanks again and looking forward to returning to the east coast,
N.
Posted by: nkhstudio at June 6, 2009 9:20 PM
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