I am new here

A laptop computer helps to do the routing, but it is not trucker approved, you would still have to watch out for low bridges and restricted areas. It would give you an idea of the area though, you can look and see where the dock is, and sometimes find an address in the area to use for the gps if it can't find it. A trucker GPS would be better for you to use I think than trying to use a phone, which the phone most likely is the same as a car gps. A lot of times you can't even rely on being able to call a company for directions, no one there, the menu loop, etc.

 

Couple things: I personally don't care for the phone and tablet apps or almost any app that isn't designed specifically for trucking. Whoever said trucking GPS is the way to go but is expensive for most beginners is right, however, if you go with a starter company you will most likely wind up with one that uses Qualcomm and E-Logs and most of those have a GPS function that you can sign up for, for a fee. It's a couple dollars a week (I pay $2.31/ per week), it's trucking specific, constantly updated, has a voice feature so the audio instructions come through your stereo speakers. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles the Mack Daddy Rand McNally 7" puppy does but that runs $350- $380, and it serves it's purpose well. One thing it won't do is accept a route you program into it and it can't accept variables. All it does is find the most direct truck approved route, which may or may not have a low bridge, may or may not run on a toll road (which it won't tell you is a toll road) and may be the most direct and shortest route, but not necessarily the fastest with a heavy load.

A GPS or any routing app is NOT how you determine your route. It's just a tool. Trip planning and map skills are CRITICAL, VITAL and as fundamental skills that you MUST master as shifting and backing are and unfortunately most schools don't spend much time at all on it. Their main purpose is to get you to be able to pass the CDL tests and frankly, the DMV doesn't care if you know where you're going or not. About the only thing they will do that remotely ties with map skill is ask you what the clearance was on the overpass that you just went under during the road test. Little late by that time if it was real life (but they know you have clearance). What I'll do if you are interested in how I've managed to take the best of both worlds (old school map skills and modern technology - electronics do fail but a map book doesn't) and marry them into what I think is the best technique for trip planning and start a new thread in Experienced Trucker's Advice (unless someone can think of a better forum).

 

We used a Garmin for a car when husband first started driving. But we also went by customer directions to get in if we could. Most companies issue a route plan you are to use, so I would try to make sure it was routed that way. Once to the p/u or rec'vr, I would make sure it was on the biggest looking roads to get in or out. This was after studying the front of the road atlas for any low bridge or restricted info. The bad thing was, one month you could go through an area and by the next time the city had it restricted and you had to go around or whatever. It is still like that I think.

findfuelstops.com is a link I use most of the time to locate truckstops along the way. It has a lot of info on it, just remember that not all places listed have parking at them.

Using google maps on the internet, you can see your whole route, change it as necessary, plug in your fuel stop; if you know you have 6 hrs to drive, you can figure where you might be able to find a place to park for the break or your 10 off, etc.

All tools to make it easier to plot your trip and be safe.

NOw if there were just a black hole someone could open up and get rid of the cars.

 

Western has a decent load securement class BUT you will only get 1-2 weeks with a trainer who will be sleeping and most likely a male #####...just saying! Also....they are a HUGE DOT target as their trainer trucks and their new drivers are highly careless and accident prone. Be prepared for LOTS of DOT inspections especially being a new flatbedder with that company, Be careful...stay safe...and i hope you like flatbedding...i do!