GPS

Have you bothered to look thru a truckers atlas? It will give you, state by state, the location of all low bridges, restricted roads and where there at, weigh stations and other pertinent info. Like was stated earlier, proper preplanning will keep you out of trouble. BELIEVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

yeah really, whew...... I'm on my 4 th year using a gps (pcmiler) and it has never put me under a low overpass. I'm cant say the same prior to that using maps

 

I have indeed looked through a truckers atlas. I've also looked through old newspapers. So I know that truckers took trucks under low bridges way back in the olden days when all we had was the trusty truckers atlas and GPS was just a dream in some scientist's eye. Therefore the theory that GPS is to blame when a trucker takes a truck under a low bridge just doesn't hold water for me.

Guns don't kill people. People kill people. GPS doesn't take truckers under low bridges. Idiot truckers take themselves under low bridges. Looking at a truck wedged under a bridge and blaming it on the GPS is like looking a murder scene and blaming it on the bullet.

I used GPS way back I first started driving and there was no such thing as a 'trucker's GPS'. One of the more seasoned guys at the company I worked for used to point his finger at me and tell me that my GPS was going to lead me to drive under a 10' bridge. I would point my finger right back at him and tell him no, my GPS might lead YOU to drive under a 10' bridge, but just because you're dumb enough to do that, don't assume I'm dumb enough to do the same. And what'd ya know? Here I am all these years later and never had to pry a truck out from a under a low bridge. I like to think that didn't happen by accident.

GPS is a tool like any other. And its limitations need to be understood and respected like any other. But I will always make the following claim. You show me a driver who allowed his GPS to take him under a low bridge and I'll show you a driver who was going to find a low bridge whether he had a GPS in the truck or not.

 

My May dry van is 14' tall,always look'n at bridges for height.

 

ORLY!!!, there is a bridge here in Denver that used to be marked 11'6", in every publication it's marked as such. Yet, at least once a week someone tries to take a 13'6" semi under it, typically it's either a rookie local driver or an OTR driver who thought the MCR and the sign were wrong. Oh and recently, because of paving, they changed it to 11'4" clearance, now about half the tankers don't fit under it.

 

You make a very valid point. I probably just feel the way I do cuz the storys we all hear about gps's screwing guys on bridges when actuality it is the drivers fault 100% for not paying attention. Guess the point I'm trying to make is that some people NOT ALL get so caught up with their gps that they forget to pay attention to all signs and notices thinking they are all set and the road is clear. yet again I guess a map could to if something is incorrect also. Moral of the story I guess is trust no one or anything, just pay close attention

 

I agree with you, except for the word "all".

The atlas is awesome. Every truck should have one in it and use it often.

But, there are tons of low bridges that are not listed in it. Can't say if there are any missed on major highways, or not, but I tend to think that part is pretty accurate. But, once you get into towns, there are tons not included. The Rand McNally GPS also seems to miss these same low bridges, and will try to route you under them. I have been face to face with more than one bridge I couldn't clear, and found no mention of it in my atlas.

So, if you use your atlas, you will know about most of the low bridges, but not all of them.

The trick is to use your atlas to find the most likely route you can clear. But, you had better be reading each sign as you pass it, especially if it concerns clearances, and make sure you can make it under the bridge before you try.

 

Dont learn to drive by the GPS. GPS is still in its infancy and is not safe for trucking. As has been stated before, learn to use the atlas. Cheaper to use in the long run. Get an air card for a notebook computer and look up the route on a search engine with mapping. They all have the ability for you to see road view. Real easy to let that gps put you where you dont belong!

 

I use my GPS to tell me how far it is and how fast I'm going. I use my atlas to ensure I stay on yellow roads. I use my eyes to identify hazards in real time and I use common sense to keep me safe.

GPS is great to HELP navigate interstates in large cities like that bowl of spagetti, LA. Once off the interstate, if you aren't using all your tools, you're a fool.

 

GPS stands for Go Pound Sand, I'll get directions from a human.