Don’t put your trust in google maps

I’ll take that bet!

 

I'm a crusty old bassturd and I say 75% of the population couldn't tell you where north is, let alone read a map.

 

You are an anomaly Stwik!

 

Trust but verify! Only a fool will just punch in an address and start driving. I always actually look at the route Google recommends and look closely at the area around the destination, and at any smaller roads. And if there’s any doubt, I look at my Rand McNally atlas.

And having said this, I have to admit that I found myself approaching a 13’2” railroad bridge in Cleveland a few weeks ago. Only pure luck got me out of that one, there was a place right before the bridge that was big enough to turn the truck around!

 

Brings up a question I've had floating around my mind for a bit. Google maps doesn't take into consideration the limitations semi-trucks have compared to regular autos. So, it could easily route you on an unusable route for a semi.
It seems there are a couple of apps (apps you can load into a regular tablet or smartphone) and dedicated gadgets (tablets dedicated to only trip routing). Any recommendations on an app, or dedicated gadget that truckers have used and works well for truck routing.
I've use Google maps in my car commonly, I like the traffic updates and how they do help with following a route. It's kind of funny I think, Google maps is good at telling you where to go, but it is, in practice, not very good at telling you where you actually are. Having been a cartographer for many years, paper maps and atlases are a tool I will simply not quit using. But, those can be problematic to use while you are actually driving.
Anyway, recommendations for apps?

 

Google maps is very good at finding ur final destinstion or pickup . satellitie view to see where to enter the yard. Street view to go around the block and find any truck restricted roads... I would never use it to route me. Thats what a atlas is for

 

When I was in college, some idiot drove his car right into a lake because his GPS told him to turn into it lol. The lake was huge, was the only thing there for miles, yet this ####### decides to turn...

 

PrePlan should be done BEFORE driving. Make some cliff notes for your turns. And do this REGARDLESS of what app or gps or road atlas you use.

 

Google Maps is a really good GPS app, as long as you understand its limitations. It doesn’t account for truck-specific routing issues like height/weight/no trucks.

That’s where you, the human with the big brain who can actually think and plan, come in. You look at the suggested route and the presented alternatives, make sure the route is actually acceptable, make changes when it isn’t (I put in intermediate stops to make sure it goes where I need to go), and you don’t start driving until you’re satisfied that you have good routing. This isn’t just for Google Maps, it goes for ANY GPS app or standalone unit!

 

Google maps has changed my life. I can’t believe I was trucking before it existed.

The ability to enter a destination. Plan the route. Satellite view to see which is the right entrance, etc. Then still be able to street view anywhere to see bridge height and truck restriction signs all within 5 minutes is so incredibly powerful.

Yet morons type in the address and hit go.