Suggested Atlas software?

Krooser, I can see where you're coming from. I used a combination. I'd put my companys directions and the directions from the shipper into the laptop program. That way I can see the streets before and after my target turns. If I saw a highway that made it better, I'd add it in.

There's nothing wrong with a techno gadget as long as it's a tool to help your brain, instead of replace it.

 

Well in conclusion I bought the atlas too. I found the large print spiral version on amazon for like $14 bucks. When I first looked I kept seeing them for like $50-60+ but I'm still going to use the laptop in tandem.

 

Heres how we do it right now:

1. Wait forever for load info.
2. Plug addresses into Streets and trips.
3. Wait for pickup window.
4. Check route against truckers bible....uh...atlas.
5. FINALLY get loaded.
6. Write down directions with necessary changes from S&T and Atlas.
7. Lock trailer, blow smoke.
8. Arrive.....and WAIT for delivery window.
9. Unload and repeat from #1.

Just to prove Streets and trips is NOT the bible.....it tried to route us under a 9' bridge.......

 

Just checking, was that with the Truck Stop Plus add-on or without?

 

Amen! I sure like the looks of that T/S Plus. I haven't bought it yet, but will.

ratherbtrucking nobody said Streets/Trips was the 'bible'. It needed that t/s plus added to it, and New Testament, and then it will be the perfect Trucker Bible

Just havin' fun w/ya. Hell yes, cross check your route. I used the Qualcomm, Atlas, and sometimes the Streets/Trips to do my routing. Check for dang sure you don't get a road w/low clearance, is what it is all about.

Ryum let us know how school is goin'...

 

we have a laptop in a ram-mount attached to the passanger seat running delorme 2010+ and drivers daily log, open and running ALL THE TIME and have never had an issue with LEO about it. been using it that way for 6 years.

we also have streets & trips but like delorme better. if you are thinking about delorme get the PLUS version it has the yellow, white and blue pager from the phone book built in so you can click on a street and find all the phone numbers and names, makes finding shippers easier. you can also set up folders for things like fedex, or home depot and flag the ones you go to then when you need to find one you have been to before just click the folder and all the home depots you have been to will show up.

and we still cross check with the MCA

 

I've actually been doing that just for giggles... PC*Miler, (the software not the GPS Navigator) by the time you got done with licencing & addons, would likely be way too expensive to be worth it (unless you own a fleet).

However, the same folks that make PC*Miler offer "CoPilot Live"... and a specific truck version called "CoPilot Live Truck"... now, since both PC Miler & CoPilot Live come from the same folks, the mapping & routing software should likely be pretty close.

CoPilot Live Truck, while being a bit more expensive than MS Streets & Trips does offer some attractive advantages... mostly truck specific routing that you won't get with MS Streets & Trips... even if you grab the Truck Stops Plus add-on for MS S&T.

Both packages have the option of becoming a full-blown laptop-based GPS with the addition of a USB GPS reciever ($30-50)... so the choice comes down to if the added benefits of CoPilot are worth the extra $70 you'd end up spending.

MS Streets & Trips $40 + Truck Stops Plus $40
CoPilot Live Truck $150 - http://www.dieselboss.com/Travrout/cptruck.htm

For my money, CoPilot(truck) wins hands down... only $70 more and it's designed for trucking, not 4-wheeler tourists & deskjockeys on road trips with an add-on that just points out truck stops, scales, & WalMarts.

There's a review of the latest version over at Laptop GPS World... http://www.laptopgpsworld.com/323-review-alk-copilot

Laptop mapping/GPS is probably a nice option for a team or an O/O... but IMO, for a solo company driver, one of the PC*Miler or Rand MCNally 5" or 7" GPS units is a better option (albeit more expensive)

Of course, even with all the electronic aids... I still wouldn't hit the road without the Motor Carriers Road Atlas.

 

I can't believe that in this day there is so much reliance on paper products. The lack of electronic devices/software must be market driven.

Mikeee

 

After you take a crap, what else would you like to wipe your asterisk with?

OK... seriously... the Motor Carrier's Road Atlas will never fail to start, crash, fail to get a signal, or have the batteries go dead.... 100% uptime... no electronic gizmo can match that... ever.

 

oh, you might have forgotten to mention that you must upgrade your computer Operating System from Vista/previous models to the new Windows 7, in order for this new Co-Pilot to work.
Looks like a good software tho. Thx for the 'heads-up'!