Getting Lost Questions ???

just because the gps says the road is there, doesn't always mean it is.. as in this situation in the wonderful town of Laredo.



shipper was on the left, had to back up @ 60 ft to get into it. all my fault for not checking it out on google earth/maps.

and if you are ever sitting here and your gps tells you to continue for another mile then make a turn...don't. (also in Laredo.)



(where 35 ends @ the border.)

that gps is a tool, and can be a real "tool" sometimes. just keep that in mind. google maps/earth, map book, shipper directions, all come in to play.

 

isn't that the truth. I had one of those as well, 6 months in the seat and a pickup at a paper plant in Georgetown, sc. routing was US 17 outbound from the shipper and it was shut down for construction.

signed detour was right through as residential neighborhood. 1 1/2 lane streets, shift change at the paper plant, 4 way stop and I have to make a right back to the highway. 4 wheelers in every direction as far as you can see and everyone impatient and angry having to deal with the detour and traffic. I let their impatience put me in a bad situation and it didn't work out so well for my trailer lol I can laugh about it now but it was a good lesson learned in patience and not letting others dictate my actions and allowing them to push me into making a bad decision.

even the cop that wrote the incident report agreed it was a terrible detour and I was the 5th truck that day that topped a trailer on that same tree, and the day before a mobile home mover came through there and ripped down every power line in the neighborhood and tore a corner of the roof off the home on the same tree.

patience would have avoided that situation and just waiting out the traffic and not being concerned or caring about the cars behind me.

that lesson paid off in the situation in Tulsa 2 weeks ago trying to get the turns around the tight corners with the light poles on each corner. I just waited. and waited. and waited......until I had room for the turn.

sometimes you will get forced into a bad situation due to those unexpected things that happen. just be patient and wait for your opening to make maneuvers......never force them. it never ends well when you do

 

I had to do this as well. I waited so long at a 4 way stop, that a cop came along and asked what my problem was. I told him every time a car (to my right) would go through the intersection, another car would fill the space at the stop sign, and I can't make the swing to get around the corner. So in his best interest to get traffic moving---let the next couple of cars go through, and held back the ones behind them and told me to move my ###. LOL!
I don't wreck stuff, and/or curb my trailers....and I was willing to sit there all day if I had to; but I knew a cop would be around soon enough.

 

If my gps didn't have such a sexy voice,i'd trade him in,lol.

 

You can use your GPS, but never follow it blindly. Most of the time it gets me where i need to go, but never go in somewhere you cant turn around unless your sure its right. A GPS is a tool, but does not replace common sence and reading signs.

 

Same thing happened to me with a flatbed load of electrical transformers going to Con-Edison in Boston. Those 5 ton weight limit signs aren't visible until you're past the point of no return.

Invest in a truckers large print laminated atlas. "Large Scale Motor Carriers Road Atlas."

 

I think the ones with little on no exp have the most toughest time out there.You learn how to do things much easier with each load.Your bound to make mistakes and you learn from it.I can't even begin to tell you how many stupid things I did when I first started.Now for me its like I don't sweat the small stuff attitude.

 

i've had no problems following my gps. BLINDLY. i've never looked at google. but i DO use it as a backup cuz not every address is programmed into gps. and google is great for finding most businesses. i've learned to trust my gps. cuz it knows the streets better then me. only time i get into trouble. is when my brain decides to over ride gps.

if i miss my turn. i allow gps to reroute me. or if i can find a place to turn around in.

i use a brand that most of you don't use. and i also have the parameters set. to which, from the horror stories i read from a lot of you guys. DON'T have your parameters set. OR, some of you appear to be using a car navigation system instead of a trucker system.

using a car nav system will always get you into trouble.

but, i'll say this. the northeast can defenitely be a challenge. and i won't brag that my gps is perfect. but i can't complain either. cuz it has yet to steer me wrong.

 

Always been a fan of the Rand McNally paper atlas, ringing in advance for directions, common sense, calling a buddy, and staying cool.

 

it boils down to using the right tool with the right settings. most don't seem to be doing that.