ltl city drivers: paper county maps, gps or something else?

Both. I like to check the GPS against a map and vice versa. I've found out the hard way that the GPS isn't always 100% accurate.

 

maps r the best way. gps will route you thru residential areas

 

We used a Garmin originally which you had to be careful of because it was not trucker friendly. I would try to keep it mapped to the larger roads in towns vs smaller gray roads. In Seacaucus it only takes a couple of blocks to be on a no truck route.

Husband now has a Roadmaster GPS which sometimes still can give you fits, he is all over mostly west coast to central, but has pulled some east coast and the penance states of NJ and NY. It can still get you in trouble if you are not careful, esp in towns.

I am at home now and pull up the maps on google, esp annoying when the dispatch doesn't have the right address on the place, etc. I have the aircard for internet; it would be good to have a laptop where you could pull up the route and see how and where you are going in a larger display. I am hoping I can get him a laptop soon, but for now I do the work from home for him. You can leave the google map pulled up where you can see it where you don't have to keep reloading it all the time and tweak it in to where you can see the roads better in the area you are going to.

I think a truck gps and laptop, or your phone with google map is the best idea to keep you safe.

 

Used both, map to stay on truck routes, gps to make sure I'm heading the right way and to put me right at the address.

 

I ran city for eight years and one thing that you are going to find is that through the course of the day, you are going to see the same faces pretty much every morning while you are peddling and every afternoon while you are loading, the same guys doing the exact same thing that you are doing only with a different company, at each dock. You will get to know and be friends with most everyone of them, my advice is to not ever be afraid to ask directions from one of them, they have been there time after time and can tell you the alley that runs behind the place so that you won't have to back in on your blind side, or what time to avoid while the dock personel are on break or lunch, or are busy with inventory et. etc. Don't ever be afraid to ask, they already know that you are new and they will help you, and as time passes you will eventually be asked as well. This is a good professional courtesy to get down to habit form, for one thing it helps you get directions, but also gets a conversation started and soon the freindship and respect will follow, then when a good job across town opens up you might find that several guys have thrown your name in the hat. Remember one thing, there are no secrets out there, after you have become friends with the most of them you will pretty much know more about what is going on in town the the powers to be. If there is a layoff coming they will know it and help everyone else that they can to find work. Hang in there and have fun at it.

 

I see every post here having excellent advice ~ note that preen all the info you can from every dock as that also helps but be sure to realize you are the one driving the truck and some of the people who give you directions may be well intended but they are not the one driving the truck ~ which as operator (driver) you are the ultimate responsibility

What I do is use Garmin in vehicle, trying to do maps.google first, then pull out of traffic if you need to look really close ~ if you bust a turn somewhere you have to drive on and deal with it - mad dock boss or not what you have to do is keep attention on 360 degrees for about a half to quarter block

Edit: Taildragon, that is probably my mistake - though not intended I thought asking only other drivers to be sort of limiting things, from my experience it is #1 to sort "who is thinking" as driver or not ~ that is going to save OP some shame and crying someday

 

I hope that I didn't miss communicate that last reply, I was not telling you to ask the dock worker at the dock, I was saying to ask the other p & d drivers that you meet at each dock, you will see the same ones all day long, and you will find that you can trust them, and yes, you are the one that is driving the truck, I believe in knowng where you are going before you hit the street, while you are driving it is to late, you need to be focused on driving, not on finding directions, sorry if I miscommunicated that.

 

First time post here. I've been a courier / local delivery driver in Phoenix for three years. I use a Garmin, (google maps on Phone if the street is not on GPS) but you have to use your head. The GPS will get you to the curb of where the address is supposed to be. The address might be a half block either way from where you a going. It may tell you to drive around the block because it sees an island and cant turn left. But if you are going to a complex there is more than likely a left turn lane. As I said use your head and be aware of your overheads, no truck roads, etc. You will probably find that you are always picking up and dropping at the same places and learn the routes. The GPS will also give you ETAs for when customer service is calling wondering when you will be there. Good luck

 

Well, depending on how "local" your job is, you might consider a Thomas Guide for the city you run in, or are in the most. $25.00 and they are good for a few years