Navigation tools

I do not currently have a smart phone. I will have written directions for my destinations. I'm curious how you adjust to a detour? Are you using an app with your smart phone? A GPS specific for trucks?
What should a rookie invest in? I'll be driving a 53'.

 

I personal use my cb, a truck specific gps and my phone

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

Most detours are pretty clearly marked, though you can get thrown a curve (such as having to change your route due to an accident or some such thing). In those cases, I'm glad I have my GPS. It has come in handy more then once for instances such as this.

I like my Smartphone simply because I can pull up Google Earth on it quickly and see where I'm going if I have any questions. Sometimes, the written directions you receive over the Qualcomm can be confusing, and seeing the place can help distill things a little.

And get a good Motor Carriers Atlas. Still a must, even in this electronic age.

 

your smartphone is a handy back up. but it's only as good as the cell signal.

got no signal. phone no good. BUT you can download gps maps to your phone. then you don't have to worry about signal. i would look into copilot. WHEN you get somewhere you can use wifi. cuz it's 1.3 gigs.

i have trucker gps.

 

rand McNally PAPER atlas, call the customer speak to some one on the dock for truck friendly directions.
Evan truck friendly gps's can get you into trouble.

 

This is a good tip. Many times, a trucking company will tell you that they do not want drivers calling a customer. And while there are customers that do not wish to be called (such is often noted in your written directions provided by the company), as long as you don't come off as a totally illiterate neanderthal and have some level of basic customer service skill, you would do fine to call and ask. Sometimes the automated menu will lead you to directions.

 

Dealing with sudden detours is one of those things you just deal with, on the spot. There is no 'correct way", or "best way" to deal with them. Each situation is different. Some GPS navigation instructions will get you into trouble, sometimes you'll write down "right" when you should have wrote down "left". Sometimes someone will be "dyslexic" while giving directions. Your best thing you can do is double and triple check yourself, and verify against whatever means you have available to you and try and get a mental picture of the route beforehand. Also learn to be aware of your direction of travel in terms of north, south, east, or west as a "natural sense". Nothing more frustrating for someone who is trying to help you then when they ask "which way are you traveling?" and you answer "I don't know"

 

I never say "I don't know". But when I say "up", they tend to hang up on me....can't figure out why.....

 

We have a Rand mcNally atlas, with the plastic coating. Two gps's, we only use one, the other is back up. I use my tablet, map to get him past trickey spots. Cb, he has another of those also ( he just bought the 2nd and we plan on "selling" the other to a friend.)

Sometimes I think he plans on getting another truck so I can drive it, lol. Course I'll have to get a CDL first.

Edit: brain, common sense, you can't buy it, but you sure as heck wil need it.

 

I always plan 2 routes incase I do face a situation.Chances are you'll have an immediate detour due to an accident.Then I would suggest follow the other vehicles if you can keep up.I have had alot of those.Cops have the interstate closed and youll have to take the next exit and no time to stop an ask the officer for directions and no detour signs.