bad directions!

GPS is not, I repeat not 100%. I always back it up with google maps or map quest.
And speaking of misdirections, I had pipe to deliver at a job site. I called the supervisor's # to find out what happened to the crew. The original delivery point was at Mile marker 136.9, the super told me 14.3???? I called the broker, 2 hours later and after I called back ( had another load to pick up that afternoon) and it turned out that it was mile marker 143. It's bad when "no one" really "knows".

 

Been in a few situations like that.. was sent too several locations because nobody really knows where it is supposed to go.. The hardest thing about it is trying to get paid for lost time..

As I have said as well, noway is GPS 100%.. My experience with Streets and maps/ copilot and Internet has been around 90%... Construction sites are the worst to find usually...

Its a combination of GPS, Internet, customer directions that makes it almost 100%... (nothing is 100% in this business)

 

I run a Sony Vaio computer in a mount from First Mobile Technoligies, useing Delorme Street Atlas with the Earthmate GPS. It works well, but it's not 100% all the time. It fails to show low bridges, restricted streets, and other things we run into.

 

Just remember the golden rule and check your attitude when asking for help. I remember a time when I was walking around the neighborhood and suddenly heard the rumble of a diesel and and some old dude bark'n, "Hey!... Come here!" I turned around and saw a huge suv pull'n a boat. I walked up to him and he snaped, "Where's the 1st street boat ramps!" like I just peed on his leg or something. I glanced at his Ill'niose plates, and instead of telling him to just go straight about eight blocks, I sent his silly arse back the other way to a place just east of nowhere! Flatlanders... I know how frustrating it can be, but I've come to the understanding that any "directions" given are just an add-on that are free for the taking (or not). Ask nice, smile, pay attention, thank 'em kindly, cross your fingers and expect mayhem.

 

Getting lost is what keeps the job fun! Nothing more exciting than running into residential areas and sweating bullets trying to find a place to turn that 70 ft rig around. FUN FUN FUN I tell ya.

 

I was always a real big fan of calling my consignee myself. But then again occasionally you get that person who makes you wonder how on earth they go t to work that morning. But hey, that's what makes the job interesting.

 

I keep a current version of Streets and Trips loaded on both my PC as well as my laptop. Yes the directions will come up the same a Mapquest EXCEPT I don't need to be conected to the internent to access the info. It help to get lost truckdrivers where they need to be in the middle of the night when the directions they were given were not accurate....oh yes BTDT- driver told me he had driections and I asked ok what did they tell ya and he read them off and I said well ok if ya want to do that ok call me if ya need me....he called! I have the laptop with me everywhere I go so I am alway prepared to get the guys where the need to be. BUT keep the version current! Also there is a sponser here that sells a mapping program I can't remember the name but it list low underpasses yea! don't need that one so much now with flats but it can't hurt.

 

I just loaded in Tulsa yesterday. Directions from the shipper's mouth were I244, north on Yale, west on Pine...so as I make my turn on Pine, imagine how excited I was to be confronted with a "Road closed" and "Bridge Out" sign. Yippy!
If this guy works there, shouldn't he have known that the bridge was out?