I talked a trainee out of buying the Rand McNally atlas today...

Well, it is Wisconsin......

 

No one really mentioned the biggest benefit of the old skool atlas: How much quicker the eye can change scale compared to the digital. For close in, and the extremely coarse overview, digital is fine. But say you are weighing various routes across a state, nothing is comparable to using an atlas. The eye can go from overview to detail and back far more seamlessly than the digital maps, which are always short on detail when you zoom out for an overview.

Each has its place, but if you think digital has replaced the print map, I'm guessing you don't know how to use the print version properly.

 

I'm telling Flo! She'll be along to kick your tail in a few!

 

My GPS has a compare route selection so I can already see multiple routes at a touch of a button. It's also much faster and more accurate as far as mileage and how it will effect your eta to a delivery. Sorry guys your not gonna win this argument. Anything you say a paper atlas is better at I guarantee the gps has implemented an is a lot faster and more accurate. I can compare multiple routes, multiple stops, search for poi along my route such as truck stops or rest areas well In advance to plan my stops, I know my eta on the fly as it changes according to traffic delays or weather, and I get accurate truck routing information such as low bridges, curve warnings, speed warnings, weight violations etc. a properly set up, fully updated GPS with the latest map database will out perform a paper atlas any day of the week.

 

Just today my RM tried to put me on a residential road that was a dead end.

I looked at the road and thought, that doesn't look right.
I could see what I thought was my destination, and it didn't look like the GPS was 'in the know'.
So I pulled in to a motel lot that had lots of room and called the customer. All I had to do was go straight for another 1/4 mile and turn in.

It has steered me wrong several times, but a little thought was all that was needed to get it right.
Sometimes that means (well, often times) checking the GPS route with the atlas before I start the trip, because it can be a bit wonky in it's routing.

It may be faster than looking at the atlas, but it is definitely not more accurate.

They can be wonderful for rerouting around a missed turn, or in taking a detour, however.
Also good for an approximate ETA to the destination, especially when going through time zones.

They are a great tool, but one not to be relied on TOO much.

 

You're still missing the point. You are blindly accepting what the GPS is telling you your options are, whereas looking at the print allows you to 'see' the route the GPS is telling you to take. I didn't say the GPS wasn't awesome at all the database things it does, because it is. But until computers become fast enough to instantaneously go from detail to overview, the paper shall have it's place in the nav toolbox. I'll give you that if you only run the interstates, the GPS will do fine, but there are a lot of us who run two-lanes that the GPS won't put you on unless you put in the proper waypoint. And finding that on the digital map isn't as easy as eyeballing the map.

I've been at this a long time, but I'm no technophobe. I've been using computers as tools since they first came out. Some things are just easier and faster the old way, just as some are better done digitally. Using both is a more complete tool set than either used alone.

 

Was not aware it was an argument. Its a matter of preference. Sometimes there is more than one right way to do things. If the load is on time, no damage to anything getting there then the job was done right. As I said earlier there isn't many places I can be sent that I don't already know how I'm gonna get to the general area. From there I usually don't miss. Most of the info your GPS puts out I learned the hard way when there wasn't a gps. I like to see the whole page of the map if I look at one I can't find squat scrolling around on a computer screen etc. Just because my way is isn't the new high tech solution doesn't make it the wrong way. Not that my low dough picture is the right way, do whats easier for you its your truck you got to drive it not me.

 

Just a figure of speech didn't mean a real argument. Just a friendly discussion.