bad directions!

I was in Atlanta one day picking up cardboard from the Smurfit-Stone plant on Chattahoochee Ave and on my way back to i-75, I was told by a police officer to go straight through the neighborhood due to a bank robbery (they were blocking the road that I would have made a left on to get to I-75).

I went through that hood as instructed (should have charged the locals for pruning their trees for them) and when I got to the end I couldn't turn left to get to 75. The bad thing was is that I was setup for a left turn.

In the middle of the road were a bunch of metal rods sticking up to make sure you had a hell of a time making a left. I had to backup a bit to get around enough to complete my right turn without taking out a telephone pole and I forgot I had 45,000 in the box, which was sitting directly on a severe downslope.

As soon as I put that sucker in reverse that truck got to shakin' like a mad man and I could see an older gentlemen across the street having a laugh at my expense. I guess it was kinda funny. I finally got that rig positioned and made my right turn, narrowly missing a telephone pole, but then I got thrown into downtown ATL. Luckily, I made it outta there intact but it's a bad feeling getting lost in a rig, ESPECIALLY when a cop instructs you to go that way.

One time I got lost on some country backroads (missed my turn of course) and ended up in a state park. Luckily, they were nice and had a nice big loop to turn around on but after having been lost several times, you just learn to keep your cool and you can always find a way out even if you have to get out backwards.

Now I use my trusty (most of the time) co-pilot software, macro 12 and 23 and my atlas along with a call to the customers if it seems a bit confusing. Getting lost a few times will make you a better trip planner no doubt.

 

Let's see. I got got lost while in cleveland twice last friday delivering a truck. Just called up my contact and told him where I was and he told me where I needed to go to get to him. Very nice guy.

The other time was a little worse than that and I got very lucky on this one. I was to deliever a truck to the Town of Wausau WI. Did you know that they have two state roads numbered Highway 51. Well I found out real quick. I saw a sign that said town of wausau next 8 exits. Good I am where I need to be. The very next exit said Entering city of Rothshield. Crap now I missed where I was suppose to go so I hook a right to turn around. Forget that number. I cross a bridge going over a river and then I take the very next exit. So now I get to some side streets. No big deal I am in a straight truck. So now I find out where I kind of am on the map. I was given mapquest maps by my boss. Anyway I head north. I finally think that I have gone far enough because I couldn't find the street signs that named the roads. So I follow the traffic and take a left. I got so very lucky on this part. I see a small blue sign on the road that I had just turned on to and it said Yard wate dump site. Right on, that should be near where I need to be. So I follow it. It takes me 2 blocks from where I need to be. Meanwhile I was inching ever closer to my 11 hours on the road. By the time I quit driving that day I had 45 minutes left to drive that day and I could have very easily used that up driving around town like I did in cleveland.

I get lost often, I don't worry about it. I think I know where I came from so I could just make a big circle. Just keep driving.

 

I also utilize Rand Mcnally's Deluxe Motor Carriers' Atlas...worth every penny and it's laminated to boot

 

I'll bet you like like swallowing 16d duplexes for fun, especially the galvanized ones for that "hearty" tin flavor too

 

Yup, one way or another 4 wheelers will move

I'm always sure to thank them or apologize too

 

Hogan is good and bad with directions. I once got some directions and someone had a sick sence of humor! There was construction at the intersection, (I was actually in downtown STL by the Edward Jones Dome), so it was already rediculously tight. Someone thought it would be cute if they left the wrong directions(left instead of right), I turned down a TIGHT L shaped street. If my tandems hadn't been so far forward, I'd have ran someone's Lexus over! Oh, did I mention it was almost rush hour and traffic was picking up! I made it though! *eye of the tiger plays in the background*