Truck driving in the city environment can be downright intimidating. Multi-lane highways, aggressive motorists, rush hour traffic, and restricted routes are a few of the many perils truck drivers face on a daily basis. However, big cities are an unavoidable part of a trucker’s life on the road and being able to safely navigate them is a critical truck driver skill to have.

Many loads originate in or are destined for large metropolitan areas, and even if they’re not, chances are you’ll have to travel through at least one major city while on route to your destination. Millions of drivers operate in America’s biggest cities every day and we’ve asked a few of them to help us put together this guide to help you operate safely in the city.

Tips to Drive a Truck in Major Cities

The city environment presents some unique challenges for truck drivers. The roadways become more complex, with multiple lanes and even variable speed limits in some cities. Traffic is heavier and motorists are more aggressive, which adds up to a higher chance for accidents to occur. Subsequently, there is a greater need for truck drivers to take additional steps to ensure their safety and the well-being of others while operating in a big city, for example:

Plan Ahead

‍The first rule of trucking, “plan ahead” works exceptionally well for city driving. Utilize tools such as Google Maps satellite view, and the Rand McNally Trucking Atlas to familiarize yourself with your route into and out of your destination. Remember to check your dispatch information for additional information regarding the pick-up/delivery.

"Often you’ll need to take a specific road, or gate into a facility and you’ll usually be provided this information in the dispatch."

If you’re still in doubt, you can also call the customer for additional information, or reach out to your dispatcher and see if they can put you in contact with another truck driver who has been to the facility. Additionally, allow yourself extra time to reach your destination in the event of a traffic backup and remember to factor in rush hour.

Keep Your Cool

‍When you roll into a city it may sometimes seem like you made a wrong turn onto a Nascar racetrack. You will be tailgated. You will be cut-off. Inattentive motorists will change lanes without looking, leading to many near misses, and you will come across that guy who likes to brake-check big rigs. You’ll be honked at, flipped off, and blinded by high-beams in your mirror. Through it all, for the sake of your safety, you’ll have to keep your cool. For all the aforementioned situations your response should be the same, slow down and create distance between you and the problem vehicle. Any other course of action will likely create an accident, or worse. 

Pay Attention to the Road Signs

‍While this tip may seem like a given, it is worth mentioning. Watching for and obeying road signs is ten times more important in big cities than anywhere else. The reason is simple. There are more low passes, and weight restricted routes within a large city than elsewhere. The internet is full of videos and pictures of trucks trapped under low passes, or collapsing bridges because the drivers neglected to pay attention and obey road signs. If there is a sign that says no trucks allowed, it’s not because someone in the city is a jerk and doesn’t want you on that road, it’s because the road isn’t suitable for a 72 foot-long vehicle that weighs 80,000 pounds. 

Eyes on the Road

‍This one goes hand in hand with the previous tip. You should never operate a commercial vehicle while distracted. However, when you’re in bumper to bumper traffic with cars all around your truck it is essential to give 110% attention to what’s happening around you. Turn the radio down, end your phone call, and focus. 

Understand the Interstate Numbering System

‍Triple digit interstate highways are reserved for metropolitan areas and function as bypasses. Single and double digit are the primary interstate highway and often proceed through the center of major cities. In some cities, such as Atlanta and St. Paul, trucks are prohibited from using the double digit interstate through the center of the city. They must use the triple digit bypasses instead. Furthermore, if you’re passing through a city, it’s often faster to use the bypass route rather than proceed through the center due to traffic volume. As always, pay attention to the road signs, CB radio traffic, and your map to ensure you’re on the optimal route. 

Use a CB Radio

‍Despite the advent of cellphones, wireless internet, and GPS, nothing has replaced the useful utility of a CB radio. Purchase one and install it in your truck, and keep it tuned to channel 19. Even in the 21st century it is the primary way truck drivers communicate pertinent emergency information regarding road conditions, traffic backups, and hazards to other drivers. Knowing about a backup ahead of time and someone sharing a workable detour route over the CB can be the difference between delivering on time, and sitting in a traffic jam for three to five hours. 

Pre-Trip Inspection

‍The importance of a pre-trip inspection cannot be over-emphasized. The last place you want to suffer a mechanical failure or breakdown is on a busy stretch of city highway where there’s nowhere to safely park. It doesn’t hurt to pull off at a rest area or a truck stop on the outskirts of a big city to give your truck an extra look before continuing into the heavier traffic.

Inclement Weather

Anytime there is precipitation anticipate the roads becoming slicker than average in big cities due to a higher amount of residual oil on the highways. A light rain might even make the road far slicker than a heavy rain under the right conditions. Slow down and give yourself extra room to stop and maneuver and maintain your lane at all times. And remember to turn on your headlights and marker lights to be more visible to other vehicles. If you are facing snow or ice, make sure that you are familiar with best practices for driving in winter weather and common winter truck driving tips from experienced drivers.

Be Alert for Road Debris

‍Debris on the roadway is more common on big city roadways. With so many vehicles in close proximity to your truck it is important to maintain your lane no matter what. Your best option is to watch for debris and slow your truck in a safe manner to decrease the chance for the debris to cause damage to your equipment, or turn the debris into a projectile that may harm other motorists. 

Safe Parking

‍Parking for big trucks is at a premium in most large cities. Be sure to give yourself enough time to depart from the city or stop early enough to secure a parking space at a safe area such as a truck stop or rest area.

Parking on the side of a street or in abandoned lots is dangerous and has cost more than one truck driver their life. Keep in mind that truck stops fill up faster in the busier metropolitan areas and if you haven’t finished your day by 3 - 4 pm you may have difficulty finding a spot to park.

"Keep in mind that some cities are dangerous for truck drivers no matter what. Pay attention to the trucking community, and your surroundings to spot these trouble areas. Some of the signs include armed security guards and gated truck lots."

Remember, no load is worth your life, or the life of a bystander. Observe best safety practices at all times, maintain your patience, and plan ahead for a better, less stressful truck driving in the city experience. For more tips be sure to check out our article with information about  truck driving safety.

Driving During Big City Rush Hour Traffic

You’ve planned your trip and no matter how you adjust things, your delivery time puts you right in the middle of a big city’s rush hour. While it’s possible to route around rush hour times, it’s impossible to do so 100% of the time. Here are some tips for rush hour traffic:

• Maintain your lane, keeping your truck between the lines. It’s the mark of an expert truck driver
• If you have to change lanes, do so carefully. Signal well before you make your move, and check your mirrors as you make the maneuver
• Preposition yourself for your exit miles ahead of time to avoid missing your exit. You may not have room to get over to take the exit at the last minute, so to save yourself a massive loss of time and the potential for a late delivery, make sure you’re in the proper lane. Most of the time this will be the right-most lane 
• Maintain your distance cushion around your truck by keeping a safe following distance and operating at the speed of traffic as much as possible. Avoid driving excessively fast or slow as this will create safety issues for yourself and others
• Keep additional snacks and beverages in easy reach because there will be times where you’ll be stuck sitting in a traffic jam for two or three hours

Average MPG When Driving in the City

Any way you cut it, you’re going to take an MPG hit when driving in the city. While there are a lot of variables governing the average mpg for trucks, the current median according to the U.S. Department of Energy is 5 mpg. The best way to improve your fuel mileage in big city traffic is to use newer model equipment, including tractors with engines, drivetrains, transmissions, and aerodynamics designed for fuel economy, and detailed route planning to take advantage of low traffic time periods when passing through large cities.

Safest Cities for Truck Drivers

Every city is unique and determining which cities are safer for truck drivers is highly subjective. Certain factors such as crime rates, traffic volume, and roadway design can make some cities inherently safer or more dangerous than others. Whether you’re rolling into Detroit, St. Louis, or Peoria, you should always do so with the same level of discretion and attention to safety because the unexpected can occur no matter where you are. That being said, here is a short list of some big cities where operating a big rig can be a bit easier than elsewhere:

Saint Louis, Missouri

‍St. Louis is a major national freight hub complete with rail, river, air, and trucking terminals.

• Parking: Higher than average availability
• Traffic: Predictable rush hour, occasional backups > 2 hrs. 
• Roadways: St. Louis is the junction of multiple interstate highways, and features a well developed loop (the I-270 and I-255) with plenty of additional routing options that make avoiding backups easier.

Des Moines, Iowa

‍The capital city of Iowa sits astride one of the busiest east-west routes in the nation, I-80. 

• Parking: HIgher than average availability
• Traffic: Predictable rush hour, infrequent backups
• Roadways: Des Moines is at the junction of I-35 and I-80 with an I-235 loop and additional US routes that make routing through the city easier. Traffic patterns are usually consistent with the biggest issues arising during the winter months due to inclement weather.

Indianapolis, Indiana

‍This city is another major hub with a FedEx air terminal and additional rail and trucking freightways. It is at the junction of I-64, I-65, I-69, I-70, and I-74, meaning if you’re not coming from or going to Indy, you're definitely going to be passing through at some point.

• Parking: Higher than average availability
• Traffic: Predictable rush hour, rather empty during the night
• Roadways: The I-465 loop around the city makes hitting the correct interstate a breeze. However, the city enforces a 55 MPH speed limit which means a theoretically safer speed, although most motorists do not follow the limit. Trucks are heavily enforced in the area however, so it pays to follow the speed limit while in Indianapolis.

Salt Lake City, Utah

‍Many of the nation’s largest trucking companies maintain terminals in SLC. 

• Parking: Higher than average availability
• Traffic: Consistent with average congestion and predictable rush hour
• Roadways: SLC sits on the junction of I-15 and I-80 two major arteries to all points of the compass. Roads are kept in good condition during the winter months with an aggressive snow plow program. Traffic patterns are rather effortless for big trucks.
  

While these are just a select few cities with a reputation for being safer than average for truck drivers it is important to keep in mind that nowhere is truly safe while on the road unless you’re practicing safe vehicle operations.

Conclusion 

In any area with a large population and high complexity roadways, the risk of an accident increases. So, regardless of the city, approach them all with the same level of caution and you’ll come out ahead. Keep your head on a swivel, obey the posted speed limits, maintain safe distances, and if you’ve planned and prepared ahead of time, you’ll do great.