road grade maps/best route FL NV

I'll bite. I guess I would say the Southern route would be less hilly. If memory serves me right it's pretty flat (or at least no big grades) all the way to Phoenix, then from there it get's hilly to Vegas along hwy 93. Past Vegas, I don't remember any big hills up to Reno, but then again I've only been on 93 north of Vegas a handful of times and haven't been that way in over 3 years.

The northern route...... You'll have Monteagle in Tn if you run up I-75 to I-24.... Then across Wyoming on I-80 it's ...up...down...up...down all the way across but aside from a mountian pass before Larimie, and a good climb west of Little America, it's not too bad. Then in Utah there is a steep down grade into Salt Lake. From there it's pretty easy going to Nevada. Once in Nevada there is Silver Pass? and a few other decent hill climbs.

If you take I-70 out of Denver you'll have a couple good passes, plus a lot of turns in the highway, then hwy 50 across Utah isn't bad, but across Nevada, it has some pretty decent little climbs and some turns in it as well.

Good luck.

 

First, I have to ask as you haven't looked through this site or used the search function.

I'll start with this: Are you out of your mind using Google Maps to route a truck?

Of course there

" .. Google thinks you're in a freaking CAR! No wonder there is no difference!

From looking at and reading this is your 1st post and you're just out of school. My best advice to you is: GET A TRUCK ROUTING PROGRAM! Forget GPS! Unless it's MADE for routing trucks, but back it up with a PAPER map!

There are only 3 way's you'll be able to route with "grades" in mind
#1 experience
#2 asking an experienced driver like you are doing now
#3 go on line and look at a topo map of the route!

No routing software takes into account:
#1 the grade
#2 the stop lights
#3 the traffic problems

You can put in practical route or shortest route and even change the speeds in the options page but even then traffic, red lights or grades are not accounted for. That's where you use your "knowledge" of the road you'll be taking to decide if pulling a "long" grade is worth the 30 minutes you lose while running on flat ground getting behind farmer John on his tractor, grand ma, the red lights and stop signs and 25 mph limits in all the little towns.

PC Miler 20 has the practical route as 2733 miles at 38.51 hours, it's I75- 24-70 -29 hwy 2 -I 80 to Reno. Yes thee are some hills and some longer pulls and a LITTLE 4 lane (Hwy 2) back to the big road to take.

The short route is 2676 miles at 43.53 hours and the route is I70-10 to hwy 98 then 49 to I-10 -20 to hwy 287 to I40 - Hwy 69 and 163 and 95 all the way to reno!

OR "the bottom route" which is 2770 miles and 44.36 hours. I75 top 10 all the way to San bernardino or I 215 - 15 to 395 on up to Reno.

NOW whats more important to you. The grades you pull or the TIME it takes to actually do the run?

My opinion is this.
TIME is the most valuable thing you have in the truck! Run out of hours you'll be setting some where. Use more hours and you're taking the ONLY thing you have to make money! TIME is more important to you if you are a company driver! Things change a little when you own your own and this is where your experience comes in when routing.Is the fuel versus the time ratio worth the out of route miles? you'll note the TRUCK ROUTING software shows something more than that "no time difference" you spoke of is actually 6 hours! Are you saying 6 hours is no big difference? That's one half of a days driving time or maybe 350 miles. That to me is a HUGE difference! Even in the cost of fuel that's a big difference when you look at the "difference in miles of 37+ on the bottom route or 57- for the short miles. The savings are still on the practical route unless you don't value your time! You notice that the "short routes have more time on them than the practical route! And they are SHORTER! The TIME the engine runs is fuel burned or do you get those 6 hours free on the engine?

BUT, do it the way that stupid Google Maps car route told you to take! I just can't believe they didn't warn you about using automotive or car routing free software against proven truck routing software!

Also you have to take into account the PAY! What program does your company use to pay you by? Ask them and they will tell you and ask which option do you use? practical or shortest? If you use one program that routes you differently that what they use to pay you for then your "numbers" will make you wonder how big a shaft they are giving you!

Now this I shouldn't say, but PC Miler is highly expensive and does have some BAD information in it as to "parking spots!" Yes apparently their people thought that if there was a parking lot there you could park a truck there! ROFLMAO! How many churches, small auto shops, grocery stores, clothing stores, elementary, junior ,high schools, nursing homes, hospitals and on and on and on do you think want to come in and find trucks parked on their property sleeping? I checked a lot of those places out and you couldn't get a truck in them to deliver! This program is the most bootlegged program out there as drivers can't afford that %1500+ price tag of the store bought version and there are a few others out there but it's better to use the company route, a truck mapping/routing program or do it the "old school" way and use the Rand McNalley! Also car routing programs and GPS have a few other flaws.

They aren't taking into account truck restrictions such as parkways or hazmat or low over passes and they have also sent drivers onto dirt roads and also snowmobile routes! YES, it's been in the news!

 

MS Streets & Trips has a "terrain map" option which I use quite a bit for the exact reason you want. It doesn't give elevations, but it does give you an idea of what the terrain is like (i.e., does a road follow a valley, or climb over a ridge). I have been very happy with it. Also, Google Earth gives you elevations, but only for the point your cursor is centred on. Combine those with the Rand McNally Trucker's Atlas and some friendly, experienced advice and you're good to go.

 

Opps! I guess it was hwy 95......not hwy 93. Like I said, it's been awhile since I've been over there.

 

I've been all three ways. Forget I70 west of Denver. If I were going I'd get up to I80 as soon as you can and crusie all the way in. Nothing to be worried about. If you take I10 then you'll be on two lanes most of the way when you leave I10 to Reno. It's ok at night and I've run it many times. But during the day you'll run into RV's that want to take their time which interfers with you. The grades are really not much. The southern route you'll have a steep one going into Nv from AZ if you go HWY 68 but it's short. Up on US95 you have some short ones going into Goldfield and Tonopah. On I80 you'll drop down into Salt Lake City and that's about it.Or you can get up to I70 then cut north on I25 out of denver to get to I 80. You just don't want to go the steep part of the rockies. You just want to head west and north at the same time if you can to make time. I never go south to go north or go east to go west. That's my 2¢

 

Watch that steep climb on the other side of Tallahassee !!!!!!!!

Just kidding .....have a good trip !!!!!

 

Just saw this thread how was us 95 going north from Blythe to needles?