The Importance of Maps......

I used to have some pretty good Canadian maps that were freebies put out by tourism promoters,.....

 

I used one road atlas that contained state maps, Canada and Mexico along with maps of major cities. I kept this atlas in a leather cover. City maps in more detail were purchased in truck stops, kept in a 5"x12"x12" case, and used over and over again. I do not recall free maps since I pumped gas in the 1950s. Customers no longer have the brand loyalty that would justify free maps.

 

those AAA maps are great if you can get your hands on one

have all those little roads on there

comes in handy pulling O/S loads trying to find county road such and such

 

A road atlas is easier to handle in the truck. Who can re-fold a city map the way it came? I know they are necessary. A driver still has to keep notes about street directions in a card file or notebook, and mark low clearances on the city maps. A folding map will eventually wear out in the creases. You will need transparent tape to repair frequently used city maps. When I started driving, I had a wall map of U.S. highways that came with a National Geographic magazine. I would trace each route with a magic marker the first time I drove it. The wall map should have been mounted or framed. It also wore out in the creases and was thrown away although it would have been a nostalgic keepsake now that I am retired.

 

not sure why, but nobody has mentioned google earth or google maps. With cellular internet so cheap, and GPS even cheaper, you have every street inthe entire world at your fingure tips with easy to use "click and point" navigation.. turn by turn directions. Hell you can even find out where the next burger joint is if you want.

Paper maps are good, but digital maps, but being able to type in your address, see an actual picture of it from space viewed from about 200 feet in the air, and even get right on the street and see the loading dock, all from the comfort of your truck.... no paper map can give you that kind of accuracy.