Suggested Atlas software?

I was looking for some sort of atlas software, but I stopped. If I am going to use any sort of tech. as a driving aid, I think I'll get a cheap GPS with a feature that lets me program my own route. Using a current version of the Road Carriers Atlas is the way to go in my opinion. Get load -> Plan route on Road Carrier Atlas -> program planned route into GPS -> drive!

 

Umm, google maps don't give you those options. That was kind of the point. Run a route on non truck software and compare it to correct routing.

Do those programs tell you why they suggest those routes, or to put it another way do they easily let you know the restriction that would prevent you from running along US 20A?

The limit is 15 ton gross and you get a $17000.00 fine if you're close to that?

I really doubt the newest version of the atlas shows that restriction or that the bridge is closed. Things get changed all the time. Any software is out of date by the time you get it. A printed atlas is farther out of date.

 

I have been using streets and trips for years.

 

Gosh Palazon,,,calm down! Try not to be so euphoric about it!!


Thanks for the heads-up about this software. It's the first time I've seen it, and i guarantee you it will super-useful.

Wow, seriously, I am going to get this Truck Stops Plus to go along with the Streets and Trips. I see it will link you to AITAonline .com website to find Restricted Routes. No problem. Can still use front-of-atlas to find R/R's, if you don't have 'net. This thing shows 5950 truck stops, wallyworlds, well, here:

http://www.truckstopsplus.com/demo.h12.jpg

(from their site, pasted here)
The “Find Nearby Places Pane” now contains an alphabetical listing of all the points of interest located within a 50-mile radius of the current location. In the listing above, the current pane indicates that there are 1 Blue Beacon Truck Wash, 2 Flying Js, 2 Independent Truck Stops w/scales, 15 Independent Truck Stops, 1 Loves, 1 Petro Stopping Center, 2 Pilots, 6 Rest Areas, 1 TA, 17 Wal-Mart Supercenters, and 1 Wilco/Hess all located within a 50-mile radius

The fact of the matter is the Truck Stops Plus 2011 Template combined with Microsoft Streets & Trips or MapPoint is easily the best combination GPS routing and navigation solution, truck stop guide, rest area guide, picnic/parking area guide, turnpike service plaza guide, weigh station guide, Blue Beacon Truck Wash location guide, Truckomat "Iowa 80" Truck Wash location guide, Speedco location guide, and Wal-Mart Supercenter locator tool for professional drivers on the market today that on top of it all also lets you quickly check for restricted routes and low clearances right from the convenience of your laptop screen, and we are also very confident that after using our product that you will agree with us as well that it is the best all-around too! ....

Will the Truck Stops Plus 2011 Template work with Microsoft MapPoint too?
The Truck Stops Plus 2011 Template will work with both Microsoft Streets & Trips and MapPoint.


I ripped this off truckstopsplus website.
Here is a screenshot. Wow, is all I can say. This thing ishttp://www.truckstopsplus.com/demo.h12.jpg going to be great:




Product Benefits:

Save money by minimizing out of route miles.
*

It’s a truck stop guide on steroids.
*

It’s a first of a kind Wal-Mart Supercenter locator tool.
*

Lets you relegate your Motor Carrier Road Atlas to backup status.
*

Lets you throw away your truck stop guides.

*

Check for restricted routes quickly from the convenience of your laptop screen.
*

Check for low clearances quickly from the convenience of your laptop screen.
*

Find comprehensive truck stop, Wal-Mart Supercenter, and turnpike service plaza information at the click of a button.
*

Pinpoint accurate and dependable so you can drive with confidence.
*

Very easy to learn and simple to use.
*

Search and route to truck stops, rest areas, turnpike service plazas, picnic/parking areas, etc. in seconds.
*

Search and route to Wal-Mart Supercenters in seconds.
*

Search and route to Blue Beacon Truck Wash and Speedco locations in seconds.
*

Search and route to truck stops much closer than you ever thought possible.
*

Easily see the exact locations of the individual POIs while trip planning.
*

Easily see the exact locations of the individual POIs while traveling.
*

Easily see where weigh stations are located. Try doing that in one of those small portable standalone GPS devices!
*

Spend less time driving and far less time planning your trips.
*

Never have a problem finding hard to find truck stops.
*

Will quickly become the most useful tool in your arsenal.
*

Will make you much more efficient and enable you to earn more money.
*

More than pays for itself many times over and will continue saving you money.
*

More than 5959 truck stops, including all of the major franchise truck stops.
*

More than 1050 major franchise truck stops.
*

More than 4875 independent truck stops.
*

More than 2725 Wal-Mart Supercenters.
*

More than 2175 rest areas, turnpike service plazas, and picnic/parking areas.
*

Includes 999 weigh station locations.
*

Includes all the Blue Beacon Truck Wash locations, Truckomat "Iowa 80" Truck Wash locations, and the Speedco locations in the US & Canada..
*

Easily differentiate between Independent Truck Stops, Independent Truck Stops w/scales, and franchise truck stops at a glance.
*

Covers the entire contiguous USA and Canada.
*

Find out truck stop services and amenities quickly from the convenience of your laptop screen. 1

*

Check for information such as size and weight limits quickly from the convenience of your laptop screen. 1

1=must have Internet Connection to link to this: "The following Restricted Routes page from the AITAonline.com website opens up in a new browser window. "


Hmmm... I bet I just sold them a whole bunch of software.

 

Be as it may it's still up to date up to the print date! Relying on any information printed before today might not be the best but do you think that GPS is up to date to today also? OR up to several hours ago when they changed the limit on the road after the mandatory notification limit that they all put out UNLESS it was an emergency such as a tug hit or earth quake or a truck running through the guard rail and falling and hitting a support as happened several weeks ago in WI. In todays instant information age we can all pretty much have any new information at out fingertips in an instant! But as I know I've said before paper is better than techno but techno can help over paper it's how you use it and how you use the correct programs! This is not a car and if you rely on a cheap program over the more expensive truck routing program then it's your decision!

I'm a techno geek and have been one since before dumb arse invented the internet or when he was sitting behind a desk in Saigon working for Stars and Stripes as a Butter Bar Lt! I was 900 miles NNE of him and already using that thing called internet! LOL

It's all how you use the correct tool for the job and in a lot of jobs several tools can be used for the same nut! I'll keep the tool box handy!

 

Ryum,
To whom are you directing your question? Me? Someone else on this thread? Anyway, 'no' is my answer, if I was the one you are asking. I'm not interested in it, at all. Not in the least. It looks like a good software program, tho I'd think it would be more for an Owner Oper. than a Co. Driver. I'm a company driver, so I'm not interested. They don't even list the price of their software, so that in itself is a big 'no' for me.
I like to keep my spending as low as possible, so my Bank will grow. I was able to get a copy of Streets for $10 this xmas. Was on sale, had a $20 coupon to best buy too, so that made it $10. I want that truckstopplus for $40, so that is $50 into it. Oh I need a new Rand, too. yikes, $65 total. That's about all I like to spend per year, to find my way. Normally $12 or so for the Rand, and my last Streets was 2003. lol. I'm sorta 'tight' on my spending... To each their own, eh?

Ryum, have you even looked at or seen a Rand McNally "Motor Carriers Road Atlas" such as your instructor wants you to get? Have you opened one up yet and looked at the features? There really isn't a need to have a laptop, if one really gets down to it. This map has State Access Policys, Long Combo vehicles, National weight and size/length provisions, Weight and Size limits for each state, Low Clearance locations, weigh stations, Restricted Routes,,,etc, etc, etc. Phone numbers to call of state officials,etc.

And it even has Maps. North is the Top part of the page. East is the right side. West is the left side. South is ,,,,


These things are $11 last I looked in the T/S. I like to get those 70 page 8x11 notebooks at WallyWorld for .70c or sometimes .10c. Write the roads from your Shipper to the receiver. I can usually do an entire Trip on the front and back of one page. Staple it to the TripPak, and keep it until I get paid and cross-check the accuracy. Save 'em for posterity or toss 'em.

Oh, I'm not directing all this rant at you, Ryum. I'm just blowin' and goin'... Keep the shiny side up.

 

I can tell you that relying on a GPS is going to cause you headaches...

I can stand on the main drag in my hometown and see 10 trucks per day come up main street )with a 5 ton limit)... these drivers have to negotiate two sharp 90 degree turns on narrow streets, trim every tree on the street with their trailers only to find they have taken the long way into the local foundry.

A simple call to the receiver would have saved them 3 miles of driving and lots of headaches...

Many of those 53' restricted routes have shippers on them... if you follow the computers restrictions you'll never get to a dock.

Do yourself a favor and ditch the high tech stuff and buy a motor carrier atlas and use your telephone for directions...