New routing system

I'll bring it back Tuesday... I don't have a Truck stop (Pilot) in my area but I will have them pre order the 2011 version. I will be in school when it comes in and I can pick it up when I come home after the 3 weeks... I had no idea things change that drastically but I have to realize.... I'm going to be EVERYWHERE... I guess my head is not in the correct place yet... I'm a student thinking like a student with no practical knowledge yet.... Thanks to you all for looking out for a green guy.... I'm ON IT!!!!!!!!!! They are gonna hate me at the book store.... OOH well, Learning is painful but now thanks to you all it will be less expensive.... I need Truck stop Info too..... Where are they? How do I know where to shut down for the night/day? I guess I have to learn where all the stops are.... The company will tell me when to stop? 14hr max with 11 hrs of driving ... I am learning... Bare with me all... I've got a lot to learn... "Secure" "Not Leaking" " Properly attached"... or was that Not leaking, in place, and working fine.... aaahhhhhhhhhhh , I'll get it... Thanks... I'm ON IT!!!!!!

 

i like the new system, more detailed and is almost exactly the same route my pc miler uses, it gives exits and that helps students trip plan oops wife was still logged in

 

Just wait until it routes you around a toll road. It usually adds unpaid miles to your trip and takes you on roads that turn a ten hour trip into a twelve hour trip. This makes more work for the driver and not getting paid for it. Some times it even costs you money because you are burning hours you shouldn't need to burn. Then at the end of the week you can not fit that extra load in because you have used them up on some goat trail in the hills of PA.

 

I plan on just uploading the company trip plan and having a graphical depiction of the rout and possibly a call out of a lane change approaching... Just a tool but as you know it's just a computer. I will follow the company rout always but double check with the atlas and finally use my laptop and Google Earth to see what I'm in for... Again, I really have no idea how to do any of this yet as school starts Sept 7th but I have a idea.

The map store will not take back the 2008 atlas I purchased by stupid mistake and now I must re-purchase a 2011 motor carrier's atlas and now I will have 2... Is the 2008 version good for anything? Possibly starting a camp fire? The 2011 large format is not available yet... End of Sept they tell me... I don't want the paper back version.... What should I do? I don't have a FJ anywhere close to me..... Advice?

 

Belleye- I see you haven't even started school yet. Relax, you've got a long way to go before you are in your own truck. Your instructors and trainers will help you a lot, your 2008 map is a great training tool to learn how to plan your trips, when you are in your own truck get a new 2011 map. If money is tight you can get the cheap version for about ten bucks, get the delux or large scale when you are getting a paycheck and can afford it.

Learn how to plan your trips just using your atlas. I had a professor that gave us some advice that has always stayed with me. The class was Math for the Liberal Arts Student and we had to have a scientific calculator. One day after teaching us how to calculate a formula by hand, he held up a calculator and posed the question "Is this a tool or a crutch?" "If you understand the formula and how to get your answer, then the calculator is a tool, but if all you know is how to push the buttons then it is a crutch." It is the same thing with trip planning, if you know how to find the best route using a map and paper, if you know how to calculate the mileage for the route, if you can make an accurate estimate of how long it will take you to drive including any breaks and rest stops, then opti, Google Earth, and a gps become tools. If all you know how to do is follow the opti, it is a crutch. The danger is that if your dispatched miles call for 548 miles, but opti takes you on a route that is 630 miles you could be late for your appointment because you have planned a ten hour trip when in truth you may run out of time and need to take a ten hour break.

 

You should be fine with the 08 atlas. I still use mine from 07 and have not had any problems. I believe they give you a current atlas during school. It won't be laminated or spiral bound though.

 

Yep they will give you a regular, non laminated edition at school.

 

Ok, I understand you all.... I will keep it.... I am a good planner ... I need to learn the way to plan a trip with a tractor Trailer now... I am all ears.... Yes, school starts on the 7th at Roehl Institute in Marshfield Wi. I will bring my 2008 and shame on the people who sold it to a unsuspecting student of professional transportation. I told them I was intending on using it for transit, and shame on me for not having the common sense of using my grey matter upstairs and actually think about what I was doing.... I got all happy by the low price and overlooked the obvious... It was the wrong year.... I get the boob prize.... Well, I'll chalk it up to the painful learning at a cheap price vs a hefty fine $$$$$$$. I am eager to start...... So eager that ....... I'm not thinking..... I personally thank each and every one of you all helping a guy like me...... A green student and I'm not too proud to say I am 1..... (rite now). Chat soon my good friends... I will post and keep you all chuckling at my mis adventures.... PS: I'm trying to be smooth here but I'm all elbows.... I'll take this liberty and say I'm still wet behind the ears and learn from you all as much as I can take in... Come on.... Let me have it!!! I might as well get it from friends who know me.... Belly's a eager stupid student with a good sense of humor and I don't take myself too seriously. I honor you all for knowing what I still have to learn... BUT, I'm learning..... Boy it's embarrassing.... Chat soon.

 

Belleye- Listen to your instructors and trainers, hang out in the driver's room and ask lots of questions. For every jerk and "supertrucker" there are a lot more experienced drivers out here that not only help each other, but are willing to help a newbie as well. I always let the other driver have his say, even I know what he is saying is totally wrong. I just use the advice I can and forget the rest. No one was born holding a steering wheel, we've all been where you are now.

 

Which fall apart very quickly.