Truck GPS app recommendations?

I sadly watched my trainer look like a fool driving circles around an area in Indiana. I called 30 minutes out and already had the directions hahaha

 

that a roll of quaters setting at the ta phone booths. i remember when you had those internet boths at the ta too

 

I’ve heard of it, but haven’t found the need to use it. I mostly use Google satellite maps and street view. Does it offer more than these two features?

 

And one truckstop in or near McLean had a library catalog of shippers and recievers. You went in by the fuel desk and manually pulled the information. Wrote it down and off you went. It was a really good resource.

We used physical addressing only, a form of mapping on a laptop took care of it's location while GPS kept a tab on the big stuff. However nothing beat the mcnally atlas, phone and a brain.

ALL shippers and recievers and associated phone numbers were on hand via a 10 dollar Staples Business 800 number DVD's (Entire USA) purchased annually. Many times they howl, WHERE DI YOU GET THIS *&^% NUMBER DRIVERS DO NOT GET THIS *&^% NUMBER.

 

Sure it does.

I use it to virtually visit baltimore. I might examine my old childhood home in sufficient detail to know that it has a new reflective roof on top for airconditoning which would be quite the achievement for a 1920's row home. It still had it's original slate front and garage, porch etc. Made by hand.

I went down to Federal Hill looking for a wholesale cold storage up there near Fort Ave and nothing. It's been built over. The shipyard towers are gone with three exceptions, replaced by condo towers now. Makes me sad. But... its really really good and updates constantly. The last one turned out to be september (24th to be exact)of last year according to the Church bulliten out front that day the google car went by. (The trees on the block told me it's fall but I started looking for the date to confirm it)

You can go anywhere on earth with it. Just remember that certain installations are blocked out for a variety of reasons. And some have limitations.

 

Google maps is very helpful in finding the exact location of shippers/receivers even if addresses are incorrect, and we all know they sometimes are off. Google satellite maps are also helpful in finding the entrance to shippers/receivers. If available, you can use Google street view for a 3D view of the place, and can also help you determine if street parking is legal.

 

Ive been working the Ethan Allen Canaan City project at the border (Otherwise known as Beecher Falls VT) and it's up against the border fence. Combined that with the topographic map to seek out the lost steep grade of mythical proportions in my stories. (Probably on 105 west but not certain...)

I remember when I got to that plant it was nice they had a giant entrance right there for everyone. Otherwise a block down you would be at the US Customs post shack at the actual border itself.

 

A paper atlas would have been useless last night.

Coming back from Columbus 2 miles out I see a sign that says accident on 264w use alternate. If I had been using a paper map I'd have to have pulled over and fumbled around with it trying to figure out where to go. I just kept right on going and within 2 seconds copilot routed me 4 miles up the road and dumped me right back on the interstate I knew I needed to be on.

Paper maps are not useful to me. Too many on the fly variables. After having traveled the same roads over and over I'm getting to where I don't use even the GPS much anymore. It's really only handy in situations like I described above where things are way off. I write my route down on paper before I leave and follow street signs. But when those signs say "road closed ahead" that GPS can be very handy.

 

I only drove 3 years OTR and didnt have a smartphone then to reference google maps much less a GPS. 100% on time deliveries except a few storms that put me behind. You get your load on your qualcom then sit and study your map book. Have a mental picture in your head and scribble it down on a note pad along with receiver/shipper phone number. I feel you will become a better trucker and navigator if you learn to use an Atlas. What will you do when your GPS breaks? Its like only knowing to use a calculator for basic math!