how many of you prospective new truck drivers REELY know how to read an atlas??

but google satellite will the internet has saved me more times then gps and atlas

 

right on the money goblue. still owe you dinner in the amana colonies. going on a vets ride with the blueknights next sat. ,should be fun. be safe out there

 

Two years ago I sat my then 13 and 15 year old down and said today you are going to learn map reading. Went over the atlas and the Indy city map. Last week my daughter called wanting to know how to get somewhere. I asked if she looked it up on the Indy map.
Not yet.
I'll wait while you do.
Couple of minutes go by......... I got it dad.

 

Growing up my mom nominated me as navigator. It was my job to get out the maps or the atlas and give her ideas on where rest areas, and scenic pull off's were along the way. Once old enough I was route planning our vacations several states away. I could usually time a 700 mile trip down to the 1/4 hour when we would pass a certain spot. I cant even get my kids interested in learning how use either. "But Dad! I can use the GPS to get where Im going" "#### and put down your #### phone!"

 

Map reading is basic education. You are in trouble if you don't know the difference between North, South, East and West.
We learned map reading at school especially with contour maps which a little more complex and shows the different elevations of the landscape. Something, we truckers \
don't need but its good solid education and knowledge.
My SO can't read a map to save her life, and she will ask me 15 times how to get to such and such place. I'm ready to scream at times.
So with that, I know people will struggle, but we all know that at times we don't even need a map to get to point B. We have done it so many times.
But in my case, hauling chemicals, some of these plants are in remote areas and the usual RMcNally is no use.
Google maps to the rescue, and even then you have to solve a puzzle and decifer the info. It can be tricky at times but it's got me out of many jams

 

Sounds like you're a good trainer.

My trainer would tell me that I was going to trip-plan the next day but it never happened. It was go, go, go. Me makin' him money was all he was interested in.

 

We all agree that the schools only teach what is needed to get a CDL ..that is why they are called CDL schools.. some schools do go a bit further and do go into map reading and logs...

So, as a trainer you should just expect that a new student doesnt know how to log, how to read a map, and all.. because that stuff is not on the DMV CDL test...

I knew how to read an atlas, and the school I went to, which was actually a truck driving school taught atlas, logs and other useful stuff.. then in orientation at werner, they went over how to use an atlas, how to trip plan and such.. mh first trainer didnt even have an atlas on her truck.. my second trainer was awesome... he showed me how he trip plans, taught me tk run my fi ger along the route, checking the front for low clearences and al.. then showed me how to get a more detailed city map using google maps, and how I good actualky use google and be able to see the shippers or recievers and k ow exactly what I was dring into..

What i really appreacite is that he taugbt me a good system, a routine... I still use the routine he taugbt me.. I get a load, I write down the info in my book, I eneter the adress in my Rand Mcnally GPS and have it calculate the fasted and shortest route, I get on my notepad and get my google maps up.. then I pull out my laminated atlas.. now, I sip my coffee and trip plan my route.. once I have decided my route and it is in my GPS, I have run my finger along the route in my laminated atlas, and I have my notes that I made and my ETA and roll..

I think a good GPS is a good tool.. but to just plug the address in a go is idiotic..

There are times my GPS does not go the route I decided was best.. but, it recalculates and eventually we are on the same route... there are also times my GPS helps me get out of a pickle..

 

Not that simple... but most have no experience. Most people rarely drive more than 20 miles from home, always travel the same routes, go to the same places, and when they have to they follow written directions.

They might get a little experience on the odd cross-country, but probably just enough to lead them to believe there's nothing to it, because they can always turn around anywhere... or back up on the shoulder to their missed exit.

 

I used to provide services to places not on any map. I'd get directions like "You know the old Johnson barn? Take the unmarked road to the W 6 miles before you get there. You can't miss it".