Maps

You can get a truckstop guide at the truckstops. They are next to the atlas'. If you want to do it old school you can pick one up. I see them all the time at the Flyin J but I never buy one cause my GPS has it covered.

 

Yes they are at the truck stops. I like National Truck Stop Directory The trucker's friend my husband got me hooked on them I wait until they are on sale just like I wait for my map to go on sale

 

I used a plain Garman GPS, worked fine for me, just remember its a tool to go along with your map. It won't be perfect.

 

I'm still using a 2007 atlas. Once the pages fall out I will buy a new one. As far as a GPS, I have a Garmin that I use sometimes. Most of my deliveries are either in Queens, Brooklyn, or the island. Using a GPS isn't always a wise idea when going there.

 

My GPS has the truck stops preloaded. Alot of the Pilots it thinks is on the other side of the interstate, but it has the exit numbers right.
One goof is the PFG DC in Lebanon, TN. It will take me to the exit before and down a dead end road to a fence. I can see PFG on the other side. So truck friendly GPS's aren't perfect either. They just block certain routes out of the regular programs and add other features. But they are invaluable still.
One good example is running from IA to the southeast. I use to run I-80 to I-74 to I-57 to I-24. The GPS taught me to run I-74 to I-155 to I-55 to hwy 4 to I-64 over to I-57. Saves 24 miles.

 

I've got the 2010 large version. I've also got the 2009. I use the 2009 most because I'm using it to mark in, take notes, etc.

I've procrastinated so long about buying a GPS that I'm almost to the point that I don't think I just have to have one. One thing that I do that has helped me alot is I go to Google maps, enter Point A, B, C..., click on the satellite view and look closeup at shippers, receivers, tricky or confusing interchanges, etc. I still use the atlas for clearances, restricted highways and weigh stations among other things.

I have to agree with the old hands though. The atlas is indispensible. But there are other tools that can complement the atlas.

 

You guys will have to get in the groove of things someday. The really nice newer trucks are coming out with GPS already installed in the dash. The way of the future is the GPS. I'm sure Lewis and Clark didn't fathom the notion of a GPS. I'm sure also if they were alive today they wouldn't dare set out on their journey without one.

My dad was old school and wouldn't be caught with any new high tech gadgets in his truck. He would say a GPS was non-sense and a waste of money. Actually he would have been scared of it cause he wouldn't have even known how to turn it on. I remember him gripping once to no end that the ONLY truckstop he could find in the town he was at was full and had to sleep on the exit ramp and got a ticket for it.
See if he had a GPS he could have found another truckstop, rest area or convenience store with truck parking nearby and could have gotten a shower, dinner and a good nights sleep. Not to mention he could have saved money by not getting the parking ticket.

I don't expect anyone to take my advice. My dad never took my advice either. LOL.

 

My husband never used GPS in the truck until I started to use one

 

So how much is Rand McNally paying you?