BEST GPS & TRIP PLANNING

A quick search query in teh upper right hand corner. Will yield millions of threads with that very same question regarding gps. Going back to the dinosaur age.

 

The best thing for planning a trip?

Your brain, common sense, and all your other tools to help you get there. Including your ability to read and comprehend the posted signs.

 

Before you get a Rand McNally GPS.
You should go to the electronics section. Read about them.

 

I've been using my RM 740 since the first month they were released. Other than an occasional error about the posted speed limit, and a more rare "entrance ramp for I-40W on the right" when the ramp is actually on the left, I have no complaints. Oh yeah, it still wrongly thinks there is a HazMat restriction on I-285 around Atlanta near I-85.

 

When doing trip planning make sure you know what time zone your destination is in.

 

I know it's Little Rock to Houston about 12 hours driving. Little Rock to about Knoxville is 10 hours. Philly will be about 15 hours past Knoxville towards roughly Carlisle. Give or take 4 for traffic.

That is the overall bulk planning example just sitting here in about a minute of assembling previous drive times by experience in my head.

Find truck fuel level, divide by 5 to half tanks before fill. (300 gallons meaning 150 in reserve during winter, you fill every 700 miles.

Check against logbook HOS.

Figure time onduty cost for PTI, Fueling etc. Driving hours total it up.

Then check against Dispatcher date and time appt. Can it be done? If not? Call immediately and get a new time and date appt or give load away at a halfway or 2/3 point to a team or local driver going that way.

Done. Planned. Time to get going, yer late.

 

I need to get one of those books your talking about... I always stop at gas stations and ask for directions

 

You do know that the program that printed that trusty atlas... also programs that gps‍

 

Invest in laminated atlas

Fuel stop book

About 5 good black pens ( zebra 301)

Walmart has small memo books for 35 cents a piece. Get a bundle of 6.

Get a couple composition note books
Track your loads (date from- to ect)

get loose leaf 3 ring binder document places you pick up and drop off. directions to get to that place and place where you can park over night. Keep them alphabetical and label tabs of the locations name.

GPS is a crutch use it sparingly, like said above it will not sign your pay check or pay your tickets. From going into an area not meant for semi trucks.

Most companies have places (dedicated accounts) they ship or receive from alot. Once you have got the basic places down a GPS become trivial. It won't show you that brand new loves they built. Or the mom and pop that has amazing food on the cheap down the street from a drop .

Be more aware of your surroundings read every sign, you will learn more from these basic steps than any GPS or trainer at a company will tell you.

As we are referred to on here as "dinosaurs" we are not out of touch. I have multiple GPS units, dash cameras, tablets, laptops and digital cameras. I know them very well. They are only a tool not a be all end all in directions or answers.

Never hurts to ask how to get someplace. Like mentioned above, search TTR or look for some drivers who are in your industry(dry van, refer or flatbed).

Enjoy driving

 

My RM GPS shows the ETA in the correct time zone.
I just need to add the time for needed breaks and possible delays.

What could be simpler?