is it just me, or does disaster strike after missing a turn, or taking a wrong turn?

Yep there is an art to missing turns and getting lost if something happens with your trip planning. First is to regain composure and find a safe place to turn around is your first thought. Use your head and not think you have to turn around in the first place you see. Large parking lots are idea and to your left will help avoid coming back out across traffic. Depending where you are left turns around a city block might work. If you are in a panic you should pull over and start using other resources until you regain composure. You don't think straight in a panic. You won't get in trouble if the truck is pulled over in a safe spot. If on a shoulder put your flashers on. It's done everyday but Uturns can get you in trouble.

Some frown on a GPS but they can save you if you know how to use them correctly. First if you have the known routing programmed correctly you will have advanced directions to warn you a turn is coming up. If you happen to miss a turn and it reroutes you still pull over if you can. Then zoom your GPS out so you can see the routing and you can investigate what it is showing. If you are in a big city your Rand McNally has excellent city maps.

Like 52 said road closures can sneak up on you. If it's a state route you can pretty much trust the detour because they have to account for all traffic. City detours can be another story. If you have called the customer ahead of time you could of received good directions. If you are lost pull over and figure things out with your map and other resources. Avoid driving blindly. I remember one in NE in the cornfields that took me 20 miles out of route but it got you back on track.

If all else fails don't hesitate to call a police or fire dept non-emergency phone number. Who knows directions in that area better? Google their number on your phone or again most GPS's have a directory with phone numbers and if nothing else they make a good phone book. If you don't have that then call 411 for the number. But remember you have to be pulled over when you start calling people. Even your dispatcher might be able to help and use his internet resources.

I remember one time up in New England somewhere I had to get off a certain exit on to a certain highway that ran parallel. It just so happened there was another exit right before mine with the same highway number on it. Questioning whether it was right or wrong exit I went off the exit. The worst that could happen is I could of got back on the interstate. WRONG! There was no on ramp and it had me in a pickle. I forget the circumstance but I was forced to turn left and it took me into a rich million dollar home neighborhood. No where to turn around I saw a lady checking her mail and asked her for directions. She said she never seen a truck down here, lol. Anyways she got me back on course and I done a lot of praying as I rattled the mansions and buzzed tree limbs.

#### happens sometimes. Keep your head is the most important part. Do thorough trip planning using all your resources and those moments will be kept to a minimum. Don't get lazy when it comes to trip planning. Get in the habit of calling the customer before you leave. Many have canned directions you can listen to over and over. Use your Rand McNally and review for low clearances and restricted routes. Many states have websites with restricted routes and obstacles. Google Earth will give you an excellent preview. If you are in a pickle a CB might save you. The longer you drive the more you will remember about the US and the less that stuff will happen.

Like a boy scout, be prepared!

 

And an old saying comes to mind..........I've been lost more miles than you've driven.

 

If your pulling combinations and looking down a road that's giving you "I have a bad feeling about this".........GOAL.

 

I have a prime example. Yesterday I delivered in Lebanon, IN from Arkansas. I saw on my map that taking IN39 north from I70 would shave some miles off the trip. And about 5-10 min travel time. However, when I got to the junction of IN39 and US40, IN39 was closed and detoured east to Plainfield. I ended up losing 15 minutes due to all the traffic and signals on IN267.

 

It was just the stretch from Bellville to Danville that was shut down. But rather than backtrack to IN39 on US36, I stayed on IN267 up to I65. If I had known it was shut down, I'd have just gone to the I465.

 

Panicking is almost always bad...there are exceptions to the rule. Here is one. Highway was closed at night for repairs near Rockford, IL. Back in 2006. Had to detour, but couldn't find the next detour sign to get me back on the highway. Ended up close to downtown Rockford in a bad area. Had to stop on a road that was business/residential, and some shifty, suspicious looking characters started walking towards my truck. Right then and there I called 911 and asked to get directions out of there and back onto the highway.

I guess someone may not call that panicking, but I guess if there was any course of action to take after panicking, it's to call 911 and that's what I did, and they helped get me back on the highway. And the lady on the phone did tell me I was in a very bad area.

 

I made a wrong turn this morning. Made a left onto US40 West instead of a right off of PA221 on US40 East towards Washington, PA. Cursed myself a bit but then saw a wide drive entrance to a high school. Pulled in, waved to the nice lady school bus drivers parked near the entrance with clearly puzzled looks on their faces, made my safe uturn and off I went.

 

Was making a delivery to Goodrich east of Ft Wayne .. directions said go east on US24, will see plant on right. Simple, right? ... Figured I was in trouble when there was sign that said "Welcome to Ohio". Got off at the next ramp and figured out that it was "Old US 24" ... turned around and headed back, just a day in the life.