OP here: I am green, but I have driven from South Dakota to Ventura, Ca to Phoenix, Tucson to Denver, to Oklahoma City, to Baton Rouge. So some experience but I realize I have many many years before I'm considered good/comfortable. Hence me being uneasy about the Northeast area that I have zero experience with. All I know is there is A-Lot of people over there. We plan on going to Gettysburg to Maine in the future.
With all the other driving things to watch for as mentioned by others the east also has low clearance bridges and tunnels. And coming from another part of the US that typically does not have these obstructions, they can surprise! The Motor Carrier Truckers Atlas provides the obstructions and locations on the roads that big rigs typically travel. The book Next Exit provides a wealth of information on fueling stations and what is at the next interchange. Both are very minimal costs and a wealth of good information. The standard car GPS is good for distances and estimated times to destination but be very careful as that GPS can put you onto roads that you simply do not want to be on with a big rig. Impatient people will be behind you, that is just a fact of life in much of the east.
