Do I need to buy a GPS?

One problem that I have heard is that unless you have the trucker version you could be put on restricted roads or those that have low clearances. Routes that may work for 4 wheelers don't necessarily work for trucks. I have also spoken to a couple of shippers the past few months who have cautioned me about relying on GPS for directions. Apparently, the GPS uses the wrong directions to their facility. You need to use common sense and read road signs. Relying on GPS could put you in a very compromising situation.

 

Yuppers, let's hear you laugh when you get "directed" down a restricted street or up to an old 10 ton bridge. State troopers are very forgiving of "My GPS said it was ok".

 

The best advise given to me by my trainer was use the GPS but dont solely rely on it. I was taught to use the Atlas first to plan the trip then coordinate with the Qualcomm directions and use the GPS to fine tune. GPS helps me find the streets more that anything.

 

Funny that's never happened in 4 years of GPS navigation. How would a GPS lead me into a situation like that WHERE not having a GPS would surely save me from such a situation?

You sound like the perfect candidate to drive right down a boat ramp "cause the GPS said so." Okay I dont know you, I apologize for that.

GPS is just a reference tool. You can't fix stupid.

 

They're outdated before you buy them, but guess what, so is a paper map or road atlas.

It's a great tool IMO but to each their own. Routing aside it is an electronic map of every city in the US and Canada and will even show you where you are on that map.

 

More about GPS and paper maps

As most of you know I'm a techno freak. Been into all things techno since the Army started the internet and Atari, Commodore and Tandy were the cats meow! I'm all for all things new BUT not the first line item off the shelf! There is always something wrong it seems like with the first generation of anything off the shelf. Ask Steve about that IPhone and that embarrassing problem with the antenna!

But the problem remains with GPS. It needs to finish growing. I had the first generation of Garmin for the computer and it was pretty good but it was a POS to be frank! I also had several routing programs for the computer and several were just fine but it was the ground level street maps that were ok except having to work them with the mouse and the glare was a PITA not to mention that at night the screen was mighty bright!

The old school paper map alleviated a lot of those headaches! The, as I said plug goes bad or the batteries die and where are you? Remember this isn't a 4 wheeler that you can just stop anywhere and go find batteries or fuses.

Or call that dispatcher and tell him your GPS died and you need help!

The real funny part is this and yes it's happened!

The QC message comes in to techno weenie the driver and he has his load info, directions and all the other things he needs so he enters the addresses into his trusty GPS and takes off! Forget, the directions in the QC macro as they are wrong!
He drives and loads and heads out and getting close to the delivery there are some pretty blue lights in the mirror so he stops to investigate why they are behind him.

The officer comes up and asks for the usual paper work and asks techno driver if he saw the sign back down the road that said weight restricted bridge ahead and what come out of the mouth of our driver is "But my GPS said to come this way!" and the officers reply is "OH really? I've never heard that one before!" and our hero gets a ticket that makes the cost of the GPS seem cheap!

Hero techno driver calls dispatch on his free calls cell phone and cries those alligator tears that he got a ticket and he was almost to the consignee!

Our friendly dispatcher remembers this delivery and pulls up the QC information on 6the drop and sees in the directions that automatically went out to this truck with the dispatch where the consignee has stated do NOT follow GPS directions as they take you across the bridge and you will get a ticket! Mr. Dispatcher asks techno driver if he read the directions and the driver in all his wit and honesty and in tears says NO they are almost always wrong! And the dispatcher hangs up!

Yes this is getting long but there is reasoning in my tale!

With all this technology drivers are relying too much on it and don't think that it can fail them and as Murphy says if it can it will!

We had a saying in the Boy Scouts that went like this..."Be Prepared" and those two words have never sent me wrong! The same as "Never put all your eggs in one basket" and if all you have is an electronic device that can and will fail at some ungiven point in time it will!

Paper is the best back up you can have!

Ask any pilo,t civilian, military, private, sea captain, gun toting ground pounder for any branch of the military, space shuttle crew member or Boy Scout if they would rely only on an electronic GPS or if they would have a paper back up to fall back on? OK the space shuttle might not have one as IDK if they have all the same navigation aids that most aircraft have but the rest do but ask them if they would rely on something just a good hit would kill? I know what the answer is and that's a sound NO! With an adjective in front of it!

My paper map will work after taking a dive to the floor, street or a soaking in the toilet (as in cell phone with a GPS app) or when stolen because someone liked it better than you do! I've never had map stolen just electronic toys!

My paper map still works after the batteries go dead after being open all day and if the plug or fuse in the plug breaks or burns out will still be there for me! Not so with any electronic toy I've ever owned even that DC operated TV set!

That silly comment about the costs of maps was just that silly! It really was!

One reason is there aren't that many commercial zones being built or as many roads in them as there are in housing subdivisions and elsewhere so an out dated map is pretty hard to find! Those paper maps should last you a year with average use if you treat them nicely but if you use it on a weekly basics then they do get a tad bit worn and need to be replaced such as my NYC maps! But at $3.99 I'd have to buy an awful lot of them to even come close to what a GPS costs! I only replace the Rand Drivers Atlas every 3-5 years as, like I said they aren't building interstates like they did 30-50 years ago and in a lot of the city maps in that wonderful Rand or Goshen they more than likely aren't in that tiny little generalization map of what ever city you are open to!

The fold out paper maps are updated once a year the same as a GPS should be but the difference is it takes a lot more to do computer code than it does to draw a line on a old map and send it to the printers!

I also have a problem with things like Wikipedia and GPS programs that can be updated with a simple log in to a website and entering information that might not be totally correct! It's about the same as some of the "information" on the CB where someone with ill begotten ideas will do and send you down a dead end street where some "friends" might be or just for the heck of it hoping you get stuck in a narrow street, into a hope filled with water or under an overpass because it's funny!

Yes, GPS is great but until all the bugs are out then that always faithful backup called paper is your next best friend!

While we're into the techno crapola lets add to this a little!

Our techno driver above has his GPS and his cell. Every carrier has a free unlimited calls deal which anyone in their right mind would have so if you get a dispatch with a phone number a call will not hurt. If you have broadband and NO phone number then look up the phone number and make a call!

Yes that dispatch done by a DM, LP or as us old school guys called them dispatcher could be right or it could be wrong! I've seen directions on the QC or told to me on the phone by dispatch that only the insane could follow! They were told to them by someone that takes the 6 or L train to work or the Columbus Ave Bus or I have even been told to take a freaking Parkway! A lot of dispatchers and LP and secretaries don't know the "not on parkways" rule!

I've even had rookie dispatchers use MapQuest and tell me how to get somewhere and when I look them up I just have to do the eyeball thing and roll them! Yes I always get them first from the company then I do my own verification! I make that call! I ask for landmarks so the statement above about knowing when your next turn is, is now a moot point! I have a landmark to go by and what the driveway might have next to it as for some reason a lot of places are so cheap or broke or that stupid that they can't go to Home Depot and buy a small sign and a few reflective numbers and put it next to the driveway!

I also have this thing on my computer called Google Maps that has this view from space! It looks down on any address I put in it! I do this when I do what we used to call "Trip Planning!" Really, a kool tool to use along with a mapping program AND that paper map as the backup! And for you with it the GPS! BUT, don't stop there, more paper is needed!
WRITE the directions on a PAD! YES! PAPER! Hey we are still killing trees might as well use them! But written directions will still work if they....yep you got it:
gets wet
batteries die
get dropped on a hard surface
or sat on!

When you write these directions be short and concise! You don't have to write it like "go to the next street " but > next street> R (arrow is a move you will make like go to or go Right)
Each move is on it's own line
each turn should have a land mark such as
red barn, white house, big blue sign, dead tree, Burger King, gas station or next street after Maple Dr to the right
3rd drive to left and so on!

That GPS might be able to tell you turn right but like the insurance commercial that 1 second notice might not be a good thing if you weren't looking at the GPS but something that needed your undivided attention like driving up to 80,000 pounds down a busy street! Or you looked at it but the screen is dark or it's glared over!

At least with those directions written down by your hand you have done 2 things. You wrote them so they are in your mind even if you have a short memory they are in there and as you look at your written paper pad as you drive when safe to do so you reinforce them so when you "see" that landmark you're ready to make a move!

OK we can all point out the good things in technology but until it's all water proof, shock proof has it's own self contained power source self updating when needed and is theft resistant it's going to break!

Paper is the best backup going and will be for the next generation! We'll be extinct by then as truck drivers will be replaced by robots or there won't be any more trees left to make paper!

You can quit reading now! I'm adding a few more tips for the ones who needd them or is bored to death and I'm killing the borewdom!

On your paper rand and Goshen map book trhere is the states 800 number to call or their website. Everything you need to know about every restricted route in on that site if your book is old and the information in the front is out dated. Use it wisely when doing your trip planning!

Want to make th4e person on the other end of the phone crazy? Ask for directions and try to write every freaking word that comes out of their mouth as they speak it and keep interrupting them asking what was that turn right at Pine Lane and that was 2 sentences ago!
I came up with a short hand to use that is easy to read and write no matter how fast someone talks! And believe me some shippers and receivers have given the directions out so many times they can say them in their sleep!

Arrows have multiple uses but are self explanatory:
< left
> right
> go to or make a turn to L or R
On < or > on left or right Use the word ON or TURN!
RR rail road
X cross street or RR AND exit
RL Red light (ok traffic light)
FR, FY Flashing red or yellow
SS stop sign
NESW North East South West
DE dead end
Not hard to learn or read or write! So lets do a set:

I need the dirs to your location and her they go:
Take I44 to exit 82A and go south on 65 to the first exit called Kearney and turn left at the top of the ramp. go until you cross the second red light and when you pass the bowling alley on your right you will come to the industrial park on your left. Turn left and into the industrial park go to the dead end and turn right and you will see us on your right. The drive way is past the building and you will turn left and come into the plant and then turn left into the yard and stop if you are picking up come to the first door on the building on your right. Delivering go to the door by the last set of docks where the ramp is!

Shorthand:
I44 x82A 65S > 1st X Kearney.
>L x 2 RL
> bowling alley on> get in L turn lane into industrial park
>DE
>R
Building on L go past building to driveway >L
>driveway in front of building
>L and go to door at ramp by the docks (he's delivering)

Or make your own up but shorthand is faster and easier to understand with a glance instead of reading or writing a freaking book!

The attached picture is a box I made for my street maps! It's maybe 20 years old! Large cost for those maps! LOL

 

The short answer would be no you do not need one. But it can be used as a valuable tool with some cautious usage.

 

I am somewhat troubled that there are so many who rely so heavily on their "gadgets." I will continue to use my Rand McNally paper laminated maps and my cell phone to call for directions. I will also use Mapquest to find some locations if I can't get in touch with the shipper or consignee. Mapquest is also a good tool to use in planning your trip for the shortest or fastest way to get to a location. It can also help to quickly plan around toll roads. It is a tool, but should not be totally relied on, either. There is nothing like having a paper map to get you where you are going.

 

The only way to succeed in this job is with a GPS

 

I don't know how I have survived over 40 years in this business with only a map. I have never failed to make a pick up or deliver due to not being able to find the facility. We didn't have GPS until a few years ago. I suppose that I am not successful since I don't own a GPS.