Newbie.... blah blah blah....yadda yadda yadda

Sounds like sciatica.

 

Have you tried a recent update?

 

I use a Rand McNally and I like it, BUT it also can go haywire here and there. It will calculate two route options and you can choose, but sometimes each option is ridiculous.

Here's what I have done to over ride the route:

1. I pull up the list of turns. If I don't like one of the turns the RM has the ability to request a detour, then it will recalculate and sometimes it's good and sometimes it gets more ridiculous.

2. I can request freeways only, toll roads or not, avoid freeways, change the weight setting, or note that I am carrying hazmat. These can often make it calculate a good route.

3. Especially if I am hauling a permitted load I use the "via" option. With the RM I can touch a point on a road and it will ask if I want to route to that location, or add a "via". If I add a "via" it will ask if I want to add it to the start.

When building a route with the via option I find it's best to work backwards. Enter the final destination. Select one of the two route options. Then add a via towards the end of the route, adding to the start. Then look at the new calculated route to that via point and add another, etc.

Add as FEW via points as possible. Make your via points either before or after a difficult merge, because once you hit the via point it will ask you to continue or to finish the route (a STUPID feature that's also in Google Maps). You DON'T want to be in a difficult merge and be distracted by having to touch the screen for "Continue".

When doing a route with via, please note that it will only display the miles and time to the next via point. It won't show you time or miles to final destination. That's also true with Google Maps, BUT in Google Maps you get an estimated drive time and total miles as you build the route.

I FREQUENTLY will build via routes in BOTH the Rand McNally AND Google Maps. The reason for this is because ONCE YOU HIT A VIA POINT THE PROGRAM WILL THEN RECALCULATE THE ROUTE TO THE NEXT VIA POINT. This happens in both Rand McNally and Google Maps. The results can be unexpected and NOT AT ALL like the original calculation. I've had times when both recalculated and BOTH went haywire. That's especially bad if you are pulling oversized and you can't deviate from the permitted route. Fortunately by plugging in turn by turn routes in BOTH the Rand McNally and Google Maps I had the correct route memorized and stayed on the correct route until one or both of them finally figured out the right way.

Nowadays I usually have both the RM and Google Maps running at the same time. I don't subscribe to the RM service for traffic and weather. Google provides traffic for free (but beware using suggested detours as they aren't necessarily truck friendly). MyRadar gives me up to the moment weather and wind conditions, especially critical during winter or tornado season.

I used a Garmin for about a year. The RM is IMHO a far better product. You will be happy with it. Just take time to set up your Truck Parameters and learn how to do via routing. I think you will like it.

 

I'm curious what company you work for. Why was it so bad? And how did changing companies help?

 

As far as I know WP didn't change companies. He changed terminals within the same company. The reason it was bad was because he wasn't given the runs he was told he would have and spent most of his time sitting in truck stops in Denver.

He can correct me if I'm wrong on any of that.