Google Maps traffic rerouting question

I'll have to disagree with you on that. I've done plenty of 2 lane windy roads that were truck routes. The western state, NY, VT, PA, ME, all have those roads and the only way you're getting there is by taking that narrow looking road.

 

I had a delivery in Pawtucket RI one time and couldn't get to it for all the truck restricted roads. After riding in circles for a hour I found a cop and asked him. He asked me in that stupid accent of theirs if they sold GPS's where I was from. The next week I didn't buy a better GPS, I bought my own truck and never ever went back.

 

I use Google for only 2 things. I can see what the traffic is like ahead, and I can see what an unfamiliar delivery location looks like before I go there.

Having said that, about 3 weeks ago I was leaving Seattle heading south on the I-5. I heard on the radio that all southbound lanes were closed about 20 miles ahead of me due to a big rig accident. Since my RM doesn't show slowing traffic ahead or alternative routes around something like this, I turned on Google maps and could clearly see that the traffic stopped 5 miles ahead of me and continued that way for about 15 miles. Google suggested a by-pass and wanted me to take the very next exit. I did a quick look with satellite view, and didn't see anything that looked restricted so I went for it. Google put me on a 2 lane country road that was plenty big enough for my rig, and I came out on the other side of the accident 30 minutes later. It saved me hours of sitting and I would have missed my next pickup had I not done that.

Google is by no means safe for truckers to use for general routing. But in certain cases it makes a great tool to avoid situations like this. I also use it for routing around city traffic when it's close to rush hour.

 

What drives me crazy with google maps is it wants to put me on the ferry across Lake Michigan from mid Michigan to upper Wisconsin