What's the best map to use for routing?

Discussion in 'Heavy Haul Trucking Forum' started by cburch21, Jan 30, 2021.

  1. cburch21

    cburch21 Bobtail Member

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    I've been routing my permitted trips with a Garmin, but it has a few drawbacks. I'm looking for a map that identifies all bridges & overpasses (heights would be nice too), secondary routes and more if possible. Recently, I had a road listed on a permit as SR-1192 and I couldn't find it anywhere on any map (atlas, Google, garmin). Thanks.
     
    Last edited: Jan 30, 2021
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  3. cburch21

    cburch21 Bobtail Member

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    Edit
     
    Last edited: Jan 30, 2021
  4. Joyce's Volvo

    Joyce's Volvo Light Load Member

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    An atlas is not defined enough to show all roads but it will give you lots of info on low under passes and not always accurate . I keep state maps (pick up at rest areas) they are quite helpful for those smaller roads. Some states will have most of the info your looking for on line at their web site , hope your not in a hurry- takes time to dig deep in some of them. Link after link after link after link.
     
  5. Judge

    Judge Road Train Member

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  6. cburch21

    cburch21 Bobtail Member

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    I use the atlas to go over routes before I input them into the GPS and alot of the time it's helpful. The problem that I had was that I couldn't find a secondary route (SR-1192) in Wilson, NC. I wasn't sure if there was a more detailed map that oversize drivers use. Sometimes permits list bridge numbers too and it would be nice to quickly search for a specific bridge with a search bar. The only place I could even find that SR-1192 listed was on NCDOT's website.
     
  7. Judge

    Judge Road Train Member

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    Sometimes you can find little maps more for the state, a lot of rest areas used to keep them or smaller gas station types, NC is weird though
     
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  8. Landincoldfire

    Landincoldfire Heavy Load Member

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    I run into this occasionally. PA is great for putting odd numbers for roads. Pretty much just do a Google search on the area then find a county map. It's not perfect and takes a little time. A good example of this is SR 0300 in PA.
     
  9. Six9GS

    Six9GS Road Train Member

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    I've also found, by varying degrees, that State and city DOT sites can be useful to find such info.
    Had to route myself into Oakland California. The route I was given was wonky and would lead me to the receiver (little tiny place where you park on the road beside them and they unload you with a forklift and a guy in the trailer with a palletjack) pointed in the wrong direction. I was able to find the truck restricted roads info on the Oakland city website and it helped me find a route that actually worked.
     
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  10. xsetra

    xsetra Road Train Member

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    When in doubt call the state permit office.
    I use the road atlas and Google.

    Or call the company that got you the permit
    If you don't self-issue.
    Good luck
     
    cburch21 Thanks this.
  11. Dave_in_AZ

    Dave_in_AZ Road Train Member

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    Google maps and common sense.
     
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