Route Planning

It's been said often that a driver cannot rely solely on gps for routing... that it's just one of several tools the driver should use... among them, truckers atlas, google maps, company directions, etc.. I was wondering if some experienced drivers would explain a little about how each of these tools is used in planning your routes. Like, which do you start with, and how do you verify?

GPS is Good Place to Start.

If co. provided Qualcomm uses recommended route on GPS, check the steps against the Road Atlas. Last week I glanced at it and saw it was putting me on I-4 out of south Florida and assumed it would put me onto I-75 and I took off. Then I realized it put me on I-4 east (I know, I should've double checked) and then it took me up 27 (can you say NIGHT-FREAKING-MARE?!).

If I'd have gone 20 or so miles west on I-4 I could've picked up I-75, stayed at 60mph and saved the company money on fuel and me on time/headaches.

My company says the recommended route is only a recommendation. Plus they tell me GPS only looks forward. So if you're route is facing east, it won't look backwards (west) at a much easier route.

On one trip I looked at the Atlas and saw how close I was to I-64, took that and then up some interstate toward Indianapolis before I ever asked the GPS for the recommended route. It was much smoother sailing than what I knew would be recommended (through every Podunk town).

Btw; Google maps is great for switching over to satellite to see what a company entrance may look like before you get there. Did this last week when I was afraid the entry was going to be difficult. Found the Truck Entrance on the satellite and stressed much less on the way in.

1. Company route guide - always place first

2. Rand McNally Atlas - will let you know important and unique info, e.g. low bridges, weight restrictions, etc...

3. Google Maps - does things the Rand Atlas will not, e.g. zoom in to see fine detail at shipper / receiver location, invaluable tool for exit, entrance, and parking strategies

4. My Rand McNally 720 GPS - basically a confirmation tool, gives you a 'head's up' for upcoming exits and junctions, great for smaller roads that have inconspicuous street signs

Running linehaul , I've now gotten to the point where I know most of the locations I can get dispatched to, there's actually quite a bit of them in the northeast. When I first started out, i was going to a 'new' place each dispatch. Besides the company route guide, understanding and using Google Maps and a Rand McNally Atlas was paramount. GPS was used as a confirmation tool.

I believe OTR companies will also provide route guides, or company directions. My experience, and from what I've gathered from other company drivers - always follow the route guide first. There can be mistakes in a company route guide, so you still have to use your head, but more often than not there's a reason they provide the directions, and usually they're spot on.

The Atlas is indispensable for truck specific information, and navigation purposes, and miscellaneous info like rest stops. Plus, if you get the laminated version, you can use an erasable marker and trace your route directly on the map, then just wipe it off for the next trip.

Google Maps - detail to the max. The ability to zoom in is just extremely useful.

GPS. A nice comfort tool. Probably its most useful function is giving you an advance notification of an upcoming street that might not have a conspicuous street sign. Be warned: my 720 has been known to have 'brain farts.' Never trust it completely, use common sense and your company directions.

What I like to do is compare the directions that the company gives us with the qualcomm GPS and then look at the atlas to make sure its the best route possible then I use my personal truck GPS for my fuel stop(s) then like everyone else Google maps for the birds eye view of my stop(s) to make sure I know what to look for when arriving at my stops..

Thanks for the replies guys! Sounds like company directions and the atlas trump gps. I guess I'll be alright without one of those costly gadgets for awhile, at least..