navigation for new drivers

I use everything available to me- GPS, apps on my phone, directions from shipper/receiver, call a fellow driver. As a professional you never limit your self to just one tool. That would be like a carpenter only bringing a hammer.

 

Yes sure call the receiver for directions. That works really good when you call Walmart or Home Depot and some 19 year old kid who is a part time worker for $8.00 dollars an hour answers the phone in receiving and you want HIM to give you directions? Good luck with that one lol

 

Agreed, but the bottom line is most larger carriers have customer directions available to drivers via their on-board messaging and these are "accurate" most of the time. Some times a phone call just makes sense for some locations and for some loads and for some unusual job site locations, especially. Most of the phone numbers provided to larger warehouses have an option to get automated recording of directions and these assume a truck driver and as such should be assumed to be "correct". At some point, you have to rely on other means and methods that may be available to you and not JUST fly by the seat of your pants, always.

 

wyldhorses , maybe you didn't read my entire post , but go back and read the last 2 sentences or better yet here they are..... [quote}Make sure you write this info down... Usually you will need to to speak to the receiving supervisor/clerk to get this info , not a receptionist , whose only job is to answer the phone (she probably couldn't tell you how she gets home anyway) [Un-quote]

I did'nt suggest that you just ask for anyone , but ask for the person in charge of receiving...that's generally someone pretty knowledgeable , not some part-time worker. Besides...if you have trouble finding a WALLY-WORLD OR A HOME DEPOT......then you got many more problems than any technology new or old is gonna help you. Funny how before there was anything but a phone or a Rand McNally to get us truckers from place to place ...we seemed to deliver on time and and without getting lost....but leave it to a rookie to know better...carry on......

 

Personally, I use a Garmin Dezl 760, it has lifetime maps and traffic. I added the Digital FM traffic cord to it, I also use a RMDA as well. You cannot understate the need for a good road atlas. Also, before i got to a stop, i will Google Earth the place so i can see which way to pull in to get to the dock the easiest so i do not get hung up. And like someone else said, ask dispatchers, other drivers and call the stop if all else fails. People are always willing to help and give good knowledge and advice.

 

I just look on mapquest or google map. Then look thru atlas. I don't trust gps. It may lead state law violation like taking shortcuts on non-designated roads like PA 144 between Pleasant Gap (I-99) and Centre Hall (US 322) in PA.

 

What "atlas" are you using that shows all of the restricted routes in PA? I know the RM truckers atlas lists a lot of them in the front but I'm curious how accurate it is and is there a "graphical map" option somewhere that highlites restricted routes? I suppose they have a web site that may or may not be helpful?

 

And good luck getting somebody on the phone who can speak decent English so you can even understand them too. That's always fun to deal with.

 

That short cut, I've seen many trucks pulled by police. That shortcut is restricted for semi's with trailers to go their. I live next to that short cut and I seen everything that happened to those truckers. Most of them were Central and CR England.

 

And those 2 list truck routes starting since when....