Traffic, Tolls Take Blame For High NYC Charges

Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.

img src="/sites/default/files/images/articles/printeditiontag_new.gif" width=120 align=right>Congested highways, high tolls and narrow, traffic-choked streets coupled with more wear and tear from antiquated roadways in the crowded northeastern states, especially in and around New York City, make trucking costs higher there than elsewhere in the country.

Truckers try to compensate by charging higher rates for hauling freight to and from the region and tack a surcharge on bills for work in the New York City area.

"It's the roughest, toughest place to do business," said Samuel Skinner, president of USFreightways, in an Oct. 23 conference call. "I think there is a recognition by customers in the Northeast that there may be some additional costs for products going into the Northeast, particularly the New York-New Jersey area."

For the full story, see the Nov. 11 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.