question:finding your way

All of the above... but one thing that I won't leave without, my trucker Rand atlas, the rest is luxury.

I like mapquest, only cause I can drag routes to roads I know are faster
I like google sat to see shipper, this way I know if I'm backing in off road, or pulling into nice industrial park.
I also like getting directions from shipper/rcvr.

If your GPS conflicts with shipper/rcvr... forget the GPS (unless you got directions from a girl) <---now think real hard!

 

the very few times i've actually had to call. the girls will knock directions out of the park. most of the guys. have no clue. and don't generally speak english.

pulling a flat. a lot of times we're out in the field. sometimes it takes google to get you close. as the address usually isn't valid. or a known post office address.

using copilot. i've learned to just listen to it. cuz it knows the streets better then i.
i pick my own route. i end up on a weight restricted bridge. local streets that aren't listed on the atlas.

it has yet to steer me on a road where common sense would need to take over. too bad i can't say the same for the brand i tried first.

 

I use it all, Atlas, Customer Directions, Google Maps Satellite View to look at entrance and possible parking, GPS and phone. GPS is great tool, but do not think it will get you there every time without getting you in trouble. If there is any doubt about the route, call the customer and your dispatcher.

 

We never had a GPS in my day everything was by Maps, you studied the best route and took notes so as you got near to the drop you read your notes and you always read the address backwards.

I had one trip in Milan where i got caught in rush hour and a time against me, I haled a taxi and I followed him all the way to the gate...

 

Pure luck and cross your fingers like post 2 and 3 said,lol.Seriously though get the atlas out plan your route and plan a second route.Depending on the GPS and not even glancing at the gps can be dangerous.You hear all the time about truckers getting into accidents because they relied on the GPS.What you should do is plan you route from the atlas and compare it to the gps.But get a truckers atlas,they tell you the non trucker routes,low bridges.

 

A lot of times I just make mental notes of how to get to places. If I ve never heard of a place, I usually go to Microsoft Streets and Trips and find it. Then I check my Atlas to see if that route is legal for trucks and then go from there. Most of the times you re going to the same places over and over and it sinks in on how to get there. You couldn t pay me to own a GPS

 

The Rand atlas is the one we use the most. The GPS is great but its not always accurate or going to take you the EASIEST way.

USX gives us specific routes they want you to take. We look it up on the atlas & plan our bathroom breaks, lunch breaks, etc.

The most important advice anyone can give you is use Google maps satellite view for any shipper/receiver. Most GPS will take you to the front of the building when you put the address in. What you as a driver want to know is what streets to take to get to the dock.

 

You plan your bathroom brks?How long do you stay in bathroom that requires planning,lol.Suppose you really have to go do you wait till according to your trip planning you're not scheduled for that brk for another hr,lol.

 

We plan our bathroom breaks because my wife always has to go. She refuses to go in a pee bottle. lol.

USX has us take U.S. roads sometimes which means it can be a while before we reach a rest stop.

 

use gps but I also have a atlas for the big picture so you can physically see your route.. In the old days when we didnt have maps you had to plot your route with ten zillion maps or call the shipper and god forbid that there be a detour near your destination then you had to sometimes call on the cb for local information and that was only as good as the honesty of the person you get the directions from Embrace technology its a lot easier