Does anyone get lost?

Again, a GPS is an invaluable tool if you know how to use it properly.

You don't let it tell you where to go, you tell it. That's where drivers mess up. You blindly accept it's directions, of course you'll get in trouble occasionally.

You do your trip planning the old way and then program the GPS what to do. Call the customer, look at your map, then compare what the GPS says. If the GPS is not right, then you reprogram it to match the known directions. You do all this before you leave.

Example is if you know you have to take exit 298 and the GPS tells you take exit 294, you reprogram the GPS to go point A to exit 298 and exit 298 to point B. Then you know the routing matches the right way and then you can sit back and enjoy the advanced directions and know your exact ETA. I sure like knowing my turn and left exits ahead of time.

Some of these cheap GPS's might not have these capabilities. That's why since you drive for a living, you spend the money for a good one.

I have Streets and Trips too. It's no different. The only time I use it anymore is to find a street I can't find on a map or the GPS doesn't recognize. But if you have the antenna and live read out, you program it to known directions. You can put your mouse on any spot and detour there to correct the routing.

Another good feature mine has is I can zoom in to 60 feet. Night time, foggy out, it helps to see curves coming up.

 

I've been trucking over 2 years now and I still haven't used a GPS.
Trucking companies directions + Road Atlas + calling the company if needed + mapquest have worked out well for me so far.

You're never lost as long as you know what road you're on, what direction you're traveling and the last city/town you passed through. Also if you have to drive 30 miles to find a suitable place to turn around, so be it. I made the mistake of turning right instead of left trying to go to a Pilot in LA. (in my defense, it was really foggy and I swear the arrow pointed right on the sign on the exit ramp) Well a little after I turned I realized I made the wrong turn. Luckily it was before traffic picked up and stores opened. I knew big trucks make store deliveries to Dollar General and Family Dollar. I happened to find a stand alone Family Dollar. Pulled into the parking lot and straightened up. Backed up, and turned out of the lot and got back to where I needed.

Best advice I can give (because I seem to get lost at least once or twice a week). DON'T PANIC. Stay calm and just keep looking for a safe place to turn around. Worse comes to worse and you end up on some country roads, pull over, find out where about you are and look for truck routes in your atlas that can get you back to where you were.

 

Congratulations! You got it ! Drove for a long time and what you do worked for me every time. This is #### good advice IMO.

 

No I have never pee'd in a bottle, that I can recall.

Mikeeee

 

Boy, are you lost!!!

 

Naah!
Never been lost.
I just temporarily misplace myself until I am located by me!

 

Never been lost. I did go for a nice drive in the country this week though.

 

I also like using google maps satelite view so I can see the destination's layout as well as visualize the person's(at destination) instructions!...That has been a big help when I show up and it all looks familiar!

However, today, looking for rt 622 in Jersey off of 287, no go, River Rd isn't labeled 622 on the signage...Turn 2 exits later as I know I went too far, distance wise and ran up on a 13' bridge, ARGH!...Thankfully the turn I made to avoid it put me on River Rd I have to say, I was in a lil bit of a panic for a moment...

 

When you're enjoying the beautiful sunrise until you realize it's coming up on the wrong side of the truck! That is lost

 

I tend not to get lost to often! BUT there are the occasional geoghraphiclly miss locations! I agree ALWAYS CALL THE DOCK AND GET GOOD DIRECTIONS!
But here is one for the books Just this week had a 12' wide load permitted i was following the directions on my permit sheet and when it came to make the left turn to my delivery point they had large signs saying NO LEFT TURNS! counldnt back up couldnt go foward due to a low bridge. These are state issued route permits by the way.
Yall never know whats going to happen out there!