Truckers Report Jobs

Find Trucking Jobs

Company Driver Company Driver Dry Van Dry Van Flatbed Flatbed Refrigerated Refrigerated Specialized Specialized Owner Operator Owner Operator
More Trucking Job Searches ⌄ Fewer Trucking Job Searches
⌃

Map programs or gps

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by MuddyMudskipper, Mar 23, 2009.

  1. Mar 23, 2009 #1
    MuddyMudskipper

    MuddyMudskipper Bobtail Member

    39
    3
    Mar 21, 2009
    Bangor, Maine
    0
    i know that the gps and map has been beaten to death here... but thats not what im going to ask... im going to have a book map cause of murphys law...
    my question is what would be more useful if i had a computer.. i could run a map program with up to date maps. or pay way more and get a gps.. i dont care for those gps talkin to me...

    really i just dont know cause i havent tried either method yet... but i know one of you have...
     
    MuddyMudskipper, Mar 23, 2009
    MuddyMudskipper, Mar 23, 2009
    #1
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Mar 23, 2009 #2
    jaydeezee

    jaydeezee Bobtail Member

    20
    5
    Aug 11, 2008
    Dearborn Heights, MI
    0
    OK...first, I have a netbook (mini-laptop) that I carry with me. It has MS streets&trips 2009 on it and is waaay more detailed than my GPS. However, you can't 100% follow either of them blindly.I still pre-plan my trips and check construction updates on the computer. My dispatch asked after 6 months why I never ask for direction? The GPS is excellent for realtime information as to upcoming turns ..certain roads will exit to the left...ETA...miles to go. I keep the sound turned off. If you find yourself in a traffic jam due to accident, just exit as soon as possible, pan out on the GPS...look for the next major street and head there...the GPS will route you back to your original route as soon as it can. I love the thing.
     
    jaydeezee, Mar 23, 2009
    jaydeezee, Mar 23, 2009
    #2
    Baack and MuddyMudskipper Thank this.
  4. Mar 23, 2009 #3
    JohnnyC

    JohnnyC Light Load Member

    173
    65
    Feb 17, 2009
    virginia beach, virginia
    0
    I have an I-phone and love the GPS feature. I use the book to plan & the gps to get a quick snapshot of where I'm at.
     
    JohnnyC, Mar 23, 2009
    JohnnyC, Mar 23, 2009
    #3
    MuddyMudskipper Thanks this.
  5. Mar 23, 2009 #4
    wsyrob

    wsyrob Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    5,769
    5,463
    Sep 14, 2007
    Winston Salem
    0

    I have both. I find the laptop to be much more useful. I use MS Streets and trips to high lite the route I get on my travel orders and run the computer strapped to a holder I built on the passenger seat. If I have never been to a plant I look it up on google maps in the satellite view and check out the entrances and chemical loading racks before heading in.

    The day I go in I write the company directions on a 3 X 5 note card. I keep these cards in a file for future use and note specifics about the plant (where scales are, idiosyncrasies in procedures,etc) on the back after delivery.

    I program the GPS but ignore its directions and navigate off the company directions. Eventually it will synch up with the directions. The GPS is most useful at night and in the rain when its hard to see street names.
     
    wsyrob, Mar 23, 2009
    wsyrob, Mar 23, 2009
    #4
    Baack and MuddyMudskipper Thank this.
  7. Mar 23, 2009 #5
    MuddyMudskipper

    MuddyMudskipper Bobtail Member

    39
    3
    Mar 21, 2009
    Bangor, Maine
    0
    sweet so that answers question 2 at the same time... ms streets. sounds like you all agree on that... its just going to be nice to have tech on my side for once...
     
    MuddyMudskipper, Mar 23, 2009
    MuddyMudskipper, Mar 23, 2009
    #5
  8. Mar 23, 2009 #6
    CMoore2004

    CMoore2004 Road Train Member

    1,119
    110
    Nov 2, 2007
    OTR
    0
    Right... use a map program on the computer with a GPS receiver. You might not even need to spend money on a GPS unit. For instance, my Sprint phone has a stand-alone GPS receiver built-in. It also has NMEA output over bluetooth or USB, so I don't even need a cord to have the map showing my current location.

    And I still prefer DeLorme over MS S&T.
     
    CMoore2004, Mar 23, 2009
    CMoore2004, Mar 23, 2009
    #6
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.