Am I too worried?

Buy a trucker's atlas at a truckstop and spend a lot of time with your nose in it! If you haven't traveled much in real life, spending some time looking at where everything is and their relation/position may help you.
GPS can be a great tool, and can also be a crutch that can get you into serious trouble with either incorrect or not truck specific info, reading other posts about GPS you'll learn you need to pay attention to other things, signs etc., as the primary factors to make your decisions.

 

If you can read and understand that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west then you will be ok. I've noticed that some people with GPS's dont even know where they are...if that makes sense. Roads don't move...at least not overnight.

 

I have a terrible sense of direction as well, however I'm not that worried about it. It you use some easy tips that the roads provide, as well as the whole sun rise and set thing you should be ok. Signs are there for a reason, so is the atlas. I stopped and got the 2012 Rand McNally Delux Motor Carriers Atlas at a local Pilot for 30.00, looks to be well worth it AND it's a tax write off.

 

If you can, get the phone number of the receiver at your delivery. Most of them know the little tricks (low bridge if you get off at that exit, one way street goes the wrong way, etc...) Have a pen in your hand when you call. Just be quick and to the point. " My name is ___ I have a 5:00 appointment, could I get directions from I-40? They dont need your life story and they dont want you asking questions "Is there a door for me?" "how long is the wait"?... You'll find all that out when you get there.

 

Unfortunately when I call the shipper or receiver I am getting more and more often "don't you have a GPS?" And a few of my orders have in their special instructions NOT to call for directions! But I always call to check in, just in case.....

 

I would give it some time and the advice given. I was EXACTLY like you when I was that age. When I did start driving it took a lot of atlas reading and time on the road. It will come to you.

 

You will do just fine! Listen to these guys they know what there talking about! Have fun and be safe!!

 

Your understanding of the US highway system will help too. I'll give you some pointers:

Odd number highways (I-75 for example) travel north and south. They are also named in chronological order from west to east. I-5 in the west coast to I-95 in the east coast. I-99 in Pennsylvania is out of placement though.

Mile markers on odd number highways count up as you travel northbound. They count down as you drive southbound. Mile markers represent one of 2 things: distance to a state border or distance to the end of a highway.

Even number highways travel east and west. They are also numbered in chronological order but from south to north. Mile markers on even number highways count down as you travel westbound.

3-number highways, I-465 for example, that start with a even number are a bypass. A bypass is a system that allows you to bypass a metropolitan area of a large city and loops around back to the freeway on the other side of town.

3-number highways that start with a odd number are a throughway. They take you from the main highway to a city or town within a particular state.

 

You'll do fine. Once you get past the instructional phase and into a trainer's truck, let him/her know that your sense of direction is poor and ask for some help. Plus, you know this is a weakness already, so be vigilant when you're starting out for the day that you get going in the right direction. Set a checkpoint on your route that you need to pass early on - and make sure that you pass it about the right time. If things start looking wrong (they will from time to time!) pull off the road, and figure out where you are.