Road Atlas purchase

Phone in one hand, ticket in the other. Just saying.

I use a multitude of tools. Most of which require power or some type of service connection. My atlas just sits there quietly until I need it.

 

No phone on hand here... To be honest, if I say "ok Google" my phone wakes up, and waits for my next command. "Compose email to Lauren" "call Andrea" "text Adriana" or "open maps" or even "navigate to Cheyenne Wyoming"... Voice recognition is pretty amazing these days.

Hell, my phone is more obedient and listens better than my girlfriend.

 

Sure you would if you're in the middle of Wyoming or Nebraska and crunched for time. If that's how you run your ship fine but telling these news guys that they don't need an atlas is really bad advice. Just today the GPS took me to a completely wrong location even though it thought it was the right place. Other times my phone GPS decided to freeze or refuse to turn on for forty minutes and guess what? Had I not had my paper maps with me I would of missed deliveries. Hitting the road without an atlas is like attempting to sail across the Atlantic without a compass.

 

Should've used Google maps with satellite view. Would've made getting lost practically impossible.

I bought an atlas when I first got out of training four years ago, and it did nothing but take up space. Never opened once other than the day I bought it. I advise against a trucker gps. Know many drivers that rely too heavily on them. Common sense, Google mapping software, trucker path, and Nokia maps is a all a driver, new or not needs. If you take the time to learn, you'll be a more informed and efficient truck driver. I go to Chicago, LA, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia often. A truck GPS and atlas will get a driver jammed up quicker than the info you can get from Google maps. You're overstating the need for an atlas more so than I'm understating. A truck GPS will take you to the employee parking, or front of a DC and not the truck entrance. With Google maps satellite view, you can see everything as is. If you're unsure of a local road being legal, can look at the satellite view for if other trucks are on the road. Need to know how the roads are on 70 in Colorado weather wise, go to your webcam app and get a live real time view of road conditions. An atlas cannot and will never give a driver that info. 10 years ago, an atlas was a necessary tool. Today, it's being replaced by technology that does more and is more efficient in every way.

If I did lose or break my phone, my tablet can easily take its place until I find a tmobile later that day.

Speaking of my phone... About to watch trump on Hannity... Live. Living in a truck doesn't mean we have to do without. Can watch anything id normally watch at home on the road. Just a matter of knowing how to get the most out of technology.

Attached below is where you cab download whatever city/area you want on Google maps for instances when you don't have an internet connection. Or, can download the entire detailed map through Nokia maps for offline use.

 

I use an old Blackberry that I've had for three and a half years and I am afraid all that fancy stuff like Google Satellite view is out of its capability. I have no interest in getting a new phone either especially considering I am not the most tech savy person out there. Whatever works for you. I still say every driver needs an atlas even if they have the newest and most expensive I-Phone

 

Nice Truck!

 

In my opinion, I'm open to anything that makes me more efficient as a driver and my life more enjoyable on the road. If you can drive a truck, you can learn everything there is to know about a smartphone. There's thousands of tutorials on YouTube going over everything there is to know about each particular phone, app or whatever else.

I'd advise against Apple/iPhone, and stick with android. Your BlackBerry won't run android/Google apps.

Wouldn't it be nice to know if the scales on your route are open/closed, or if the truck stop has any parking spaces available without wasting 15 minutes pulling in? Midrange smartphones have gotten cheap. It's worth the time to learn and expense.

I was at a Zaxbys last week, somewhere in Tennessee I believe. Ordered my food, and went to pour my drink. There was an older gentlemen in front of me, staring at the electronic coke machine. It had a touch screen display, and the poor guy was looking at it like it was an alien, not knowing how to work it. I had to step in and show the guy how to pour himself a diet coke. Moral of the story, he didn't take the time to learn the basics of technology and can't pour himself his own drink.

 

If a motor carriers road atlas was $1200 I would be all in agreement with you. But it's cheap.

I have all the technology in my truck including a tablet (iPad) for back up to my phone. I love using Google satellite view for arriving at customer locations late at night after no one is around. I love my gadgets, but they cost me thousands of dollars (phone, GPS, iPad, computer) and my most recent laminated atlas was only $20.

Another good reason for an atlas is when someone else wants to give you directions it is easy to use, especially if it's what they're used to.

 

I paid 29, used my Love points ..

But I use it more now to look at the low height and road restrictions, and the bridge laws.
But I like my GPS, and several E maps .

 

Or the phone is hacked and the amex data he is so proud of is spread all over eastern europe.