always check google maps

Like I said earlier..... Cowboy. Internet Bad ### Super Trucker that couldn't drive to the open end of a wet paper bag in daylight.

 

I'm one of those real old types who has never used gps--internet etc...to get around...it is all in what You are comfortable with...to me they are all tools...my only issue is w/the folks I run into who follow this electronic helpers as if they are perfect....I've heard (and seen)countless issues of when people blindly follow them and that worries me....and I HAVE called shippers and receivers most of my life--and just like the electronic tools---the phone call is just another tool....the key when calling is to understand that chances are you are NOT speaking with a driver and typically the person on the other end really only knows how to get to work from their home...but there is usually enough info to get you close...and I cannot count the times I have gotten within a block or two--especially in any big city--and walked up the street to survey the situation and decide the best/safest approach...

 

I guess you can't miss what you never had. But If I was asked about programming the latest FMS system on an Airbus A380, I would avoid the discussion since I know absolutely nothing about the FMS being discussed.

 

That's when you use the ol' safely swing wide into the oncomIng traffic lanes maneuver.

 

This time of year, it's always good to have Google Maps running to monitor traffic ahead periodically throughout your day. Today (a busy travel Saturday afternoon) I happened to notice "red" areas about a mile long each direction north of Madison WI as I was headed south. I noticed this about 3 miles from the area. It looked like it must be a serious accident causing both sides to slow/stop, and must have just happened because the backups were only about a mile long.

Sure enough, 2 cars tangled and both flipped and ended up in the inside median against the Jersey barrier on the north bound side and on their sides, probably happened just a few minutes before I happened to check the traffic.

The larger point is, Google Traffic updates FAST and rarely lies to you.

 

wow, what did people do before google arrived? it's a wondaer we're all still here.

 

Geez... All this hatred toward new tech from older drivers. I get it, back in your day I would have had to learn your skills. But in my day, perhaps you should learn mine? Instead of insisting that everyone needs to just use the old way... Not aimed at anyone in particular, but I see this same attitude in all threads that have anything to do with tech.

I don't have much experience. But so far, I've never called a shipper or receiver for directions. My truck gps and rand McNally and google maps get me there. Every time. Doesn't mean it'll never happen, but perhaps it's possible that I know how to use the tools that exist right now and it's working? Ugh. Doesn't mean I don't have a paper map. It does mean that the paper map isn't used often.