Is a CB Radio really necessary to have?

[QUOTE="semi" retired;4017519]See, this is definitely an us vs. them thread. The younguns just don't know what to do without their technology. They were raised with it, so it's natural to use it. I'm(as many others here) old school, and quite frankly, I feel our country is in the mess it's in ( socially) because of this. No interaction, and they are the 1st ones to scream bloody murder if heaven forbid, their smartphones give out. And don't say it doesn't happen. In a disaster, and a tower goes down, a CB will save your life. For 25 years, I never had any kind of connection with the outside world, except a CB, and I had to make decisions on what to do, based on common sense, not who I could call. And I'm sorry, but X-Country's attitude sounds so typical of people today, my way or no way, everybody is stupid except me, crawl out of your cave, dear, some of us LIKE the way it used to be, and when, not if, your truck breaks down out of phone range, good luck trying to get help. Back in the day, if a trucker broke down, the CB was alive with help. I'm appalled to see what has become of our society today.[/QUOTE]
it angers me how people think all "youngins" automatically don't know how to use an atlas. You know. I may have gotten my cdl thru a mega. But I sure as hell would like to think i don't make it seem that way and have some common sense unlike the majority of the "drivers" they push out.

also. I don't know how this became a. Atlas vs gps thread. But since it's been brought out. I'll comment. Don't be afraid to try new technology. It's amazing how much time it'll save you vs sitting and looking thru the atlas every night to plan your next days route. But at the same time. You also don't depend on it. If I am taking a new route. I'll glance at the atlas and make sure my route is highlighted stating it is an approved route. You also need to have a little common sense to use gps too

but hey. If you want to use your atlas and all that time to plan. Have at it. It's your life. Live it the way you want.

 

i bought the big Rand McNally printed one. its in my driver side door in the pocket.

this one here.


it might show some of those things, for the metropolitan areas, but for a city about 30 or 40 miles outside of a major city, where your delivery is...it most certainly does not show there's a low bridge on Rural Route 15 or that a city street is CMV restricted. but maybe I bought the wrong map? I got this one from the T/A in Barstow, CA. The clerk said this was the one I needed. So I may have been misguided, but not a big deal since i have my RM TND 520 LM CMV Grade GPS.

As a backup, Werner's qualcomm has the Navigo and if there's ever any doubt I punch it up for comparison.

I've been out on my own for over a month now and not once have I gone down a CMV restricted road, or come to a low bridge clearance or gone down a dead end road. I keep my GPS updated constantly and I pay attention to the signs. But i also don't use the normal car gps either...that's where drivers get in trouble. I do use the satellite feature on my map program on my phone to checkout the shipper/consignee's premises so I know what I am getting into before I get there.

 

Great post there Gunner75 ! IT seems sometimes that the techies of today have forgotten that freight/fuel/food/medicine/building materials , etc...all of the things that are delivered today were delivered in years past also....they were delivered in trucks , and guess what.... truck drivers.....actually delivered them , just like today. We did it on time , in good useable condition , and with pride in the knowledge that we were professionals. Only really big difference I see nowadays is the people , sure we argued , we fussed , we fought , but we got the job done... and without all of the "new stuff". I'm not anti-technology....not in the least....I think it's a great thing. What I hate and get tired of hearing is a driver telling me that the new way is sooooo much better than the ways used before. It's not better it's just a different tool to throw in the box. Give me and any "new driver" identical trucks , identical loads , going to the same receiver , make everything exactly identical....then let us plan our own route....I'll wager that I'll get to the destination not only safely , but on-time just as the other driver will....only thing is I'll use my map......like I said the only big difference in trucking today and trucking 40 years ago....is the drivers. We ( older hands ) took way more pride in what we did , our trucks , our appearance and the way we handled ourselves. You very rarely saw a lot covered with pee-bottles and trash , the way you do now....very rarely did the folks at the fuel island have to wait for a slob to come move out of the way...very rarely did you smell a driver before you saw him.....I'm not saying we were/are better folks than this new generation of drivers ....just a wee-bit different.....

 

Very true. I do see a lot of drivers using one of those car gps. I just shake my head.

 

I apologize to X-Country, I didn't mean to single you out, as the problem I have with society isn't your fault. It's just the way things progressed, and even this device I'm tapping on right now,still baffles me (Kudos to Truckers Report for making this site easy for an old fart to understand) If you are comfortable using your gadgets, by all means, continue to use them. I just choose not to use them, and maybe that is my loss, but as others have expressed, we were a lot better off socially before all this technology, and it will never be like it was, so it is my problem. Bottom line, DRIVE SAFE, however you do it,,,,,10 dash 4!!, and I'm a gone!

 

{I've been out on my own for over a month now and not once have I gone down a CMV restricted road, or come to a low bridge clearance or gone down a dead end road. I keep my GPS updated constantly and I pay attention to the signs. But i also don't use the normal car gps either...that's where drivers get in trouble. I do use the satellite feature on my map program on my phone to checkout the shipper/consignee's premises so I know what I am getting into before I get there.}


Here we go...a one month wonder.....wow...just wow......she keeps making the argument for us older guys.....Good post semi-retired...I'll back-out too.....Brianne you might think I'm against you...believe me I'm not...hope you have a career as long and as profitable as mine was....Happy trails , be safe....TTTD....

 

This is the Atlas every trucker should have, (sorry, old fart can't post pictures)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51u1zEPaiHL._SX258_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

 

hmmm, i have some disagreements here.

Trucker 1 - Old School
Starts his day at 5:30 am
gets up, spends 20-30 minutes doing his route planning by reading through his atlas and planning his fuel stops, calculating his mileage, examining roads for CMV restrictions and low bridge clearances.
then spends another 30 minutes doing his pre-trip.
at 6:30 am he finally starts driving

so now he's lost 1 hour of his day. If he is completely honest, map/route planning is considered "work" and logged on line 4, on-duty not driving. If he's dishonest and doesn't log it, he's still used up 30 valuable minutes he could have spent driving.

Trucker 2 - New Techie
Start his day at 5:30 am
punches his address into the GPS along with fuel stops, rest area for 30 minute break, and destination...might have taken 3 minutes to input all that in and hit calculate route.
does a pre-trip and spends 30 minutes.
6:03 am, he takes off down the big road to his destination.

now you can't sit there and tell me that Trucker 2 isn't better...because he is...he's more efficient with his time and his time management, because he's already 27 minutes farther down the road than Trucker 1 is.

Now, I'm no super genius here...but Im not a stupid girl either and I can do basic math. being more efficient means you are being better.

 

See I'm a techy, I love technology. But I grew up with parents and family who drive. I can and have planned trips across the country with only an atlas. Most always on a car, but a few weeks in the summer, dad used to let me route plan for him. I use gps daily in my job now, but I am thoroughly confident that I can navigate just as good as my gps if I need to. You've been solo with Warner for a month? By many standards you aren't even a professional, you're still learning. I'm still a student in school and can see that.

 

Fine...you win....only thing is you'll "grow" to know that I'm not trashing your techiness....I applaud it...BTW you assume that it will take that amount of time to trip plan a route DOWN THE INTERSTATE....( your words not mine..ie...big road ).....It doesn't take that amount of time....but after your what 6 weeks of training with a trainer and your one month of being solo and my 30+ years.....I'm sure that you could give me lessons in map reading and trip planning...You'll understand what I'm talking about once you have some time behind the wheel young lady....I only wish you the best.