Help! I Got Fired For Following My Gps

Hello Everyone I am new CDL A driver , I have 3 months of experience, recently I was routed in Chicago city to go pick up a trailer and go pick up my load ,,the Company GPS sucks , anyway I just followed the GPS , and I had to pass this bridge, the bridge had no sign whatever , I was driving very slow , I cleared the first bridge, the Second bridge was hidden behind the first bridge, I stopped immediately, I did not get any ticket , but I had to inform my company, and I got terminated, now no company wants to hire me , what are my options , This was my dream job , I had invested a lot in this , any help suggestions appreciated, Thank you

Hello Everyone I am new CDL A driver , I have 3 months of experience, recently I was routed in Chicago city to go pick up a trailer and go pick up my load ,,the Company GPS sucks , anyway I just followed the GPS , and I had to pass this bridge, the bridge had no sign whatever , I was driving very slow , I cleared the first bridge, the Second bridge was hidden behind the first bridge, I stopped immediately, I did not get any ticket , but I had to inform my company, and I got terminated, now no company wants to hire me , what are my options , This was my dream job , I had invested a lot in this , any help suggestions appreciated, Thank you

There are some details missing in your story.

Did you hit the bridge? How did you get your truck out of the situation? Is this your only incident in your 3 months experience? Why did you have to inform your company?

Im guessing he hit the 2nd bridge with minimal damage since he stopped?

Hello Jai, please know it is not my intention to come across harsh, but the reason you were fired was because your actions indicated that you failed to follow the most basic rules of trip planning ESPECIALLY in Chicago which is notorious for low bridges. The GPS is a tool, it is not your brain, and that is not a valid excuse for navigational errors. The fine tuning of your trip plan is using Google Earth and google maps to find out where and how to turn to get to customers and in this case your motor carriers atlas would have likely provided the information needed in Section A (red) to avoid the route you took by referencing the "Low Clearances" in the state of Illinois listing low bridge locations AND the Chicago map in the motor carrier atlas would also indicate valid FMCSA motor carrier approved routes in that area as well. GPS sometimes stands for Generates Perfect S**tstorm

Very sorry to hear of the time you put into this and the end result. A Class B career may suit you until freight picks up as motor carriers are picky about Class A drivers now (became they can be). Best of success on the next chapter. Hang in there!

I don't know about the rest of you but I've been driving for about a year and a half now and I can say that my biggest fear when I am driving is taking that truck down a road that I am not 100% certain a truck should go down. In the rare instances that this happens, the most relieving feeling in the world is meeting another truck going in the opposite direction.

I'm glad Zen Joker pointed out the benefits making a Motor Carrier Atlas an absolute must. It is such a necessity when trip planning especially in major cities. Google Maps is a great tool but made for four wheelers. GPSs even when set for trucks aren't end-all be-alls and are no replacement for skills and common sense. It's best to use multiple tools to plan your trip and always let common sense dictate if things don't go as planned.

Unfortunately, your experience is going to harm you so that others may benefit.

There are a multitude of great tools available today. It's almost a must to have a dedicated truck GPS. Rand Mcnally or Garmin. Sure they cost more, but far less than your career. Both must be used as a research tool.

Truckerpath now actually shows the bridge heights now, it's well worth the money to pay for the subscription. Again, it's a tool to use, not there to drive the truck for you.

Trip planning is done BEFORE you start driving. The sequence is important.

1. You recieve your assignment.

2. You check your weight, weather, route and clocks.

3. Recon entrance and exit to shipper , then reciever using satellite, street view, GPS and atlas, includes final miles.

4. Set your break times and locations, your end of shift time and locations as well as 2 to 3 back up spots, recon with sat photos as needed.

5. Monitor and revise weather, route and clocks as needed.

If you follow a program like that, you'll never whack a low bridges, never have to shut down on a ramp, never have to worry about getting fired for hitting a bridge, etc.

I may be a local city driver but I only use gps as an estimated eta and for traffic. I know Toronto like the back of my hand lol. Wait where did that freckle come from?…… lol

the most relieving feeling in the world is meeting another truck going in the opposite direction.

💯 Seeing another truck in that situation is like the heavens opening and a choir of angels singing hallelujah🤣

Other things to look for:

-trees hanging over the road cut high enough for a truck to pass under the branches -(if you are in a town) signs saying "no engine brake" -signs giving a max weight limit for combination vehicles -signs showing a separate speed limit for trucks