There really isn't anything that you can rely on 100% except your own eyes. I've had the MCA be wrong or not be detailed enough. I've had my company and the receiver both give me the wrong directions, I've had law enforcement give me the wrong directions.

That being said, I use Delorme Street Atlas all the time. I let it chart the route then I go over it highway by highway, city by city and street by street, inserting "vias" and making necessary adjustments until I'm sure it's the way I want to go. This process includes calling the shipper or receiver, consulting the MCA, and getting directions from my company.

So far this system has worked fairly well for me.

 

The only way to jami a 13'6" under a 12 is to not watching the road signs.

I use mine as a primary tool, but I route myself when I look where I'm going. I noticed the article showed people doing stupid things. It takes a minute to pull over and enlarge the map or make it more detailed. To go down a one way street because a gps or person told you to is just stupidty.

 

I delivered a load of mulch to Minneapolis one time and after getting the same directions to the place from two different at the company I turned on the street they told me to. After crossing (4) 4 ton bridegs I got to the reciever. I walked in and asked them where they wanted mulch. They didn't know I was coming with a truck that big (48 foot live floor). I said"you ordered 100 cubic yards of mulch did you think I would bring it in a pickup?"

 

I use the GPS strictly for a double check against the local directions provided. The GPS is particularly handy at night. Like when your local directions say take I??? to exit XYZ, to Route Z N L on Old Yeller Road, Plant on L. U never quite know the distance to L on Old Yeller Road Plant on L.

It's nice to know your getting warm!

 

I really like your "avatar"!! I got an email from someone that had a thing almost as whacked as that.....if you want me to forward it to you...send me an email address.

The MCA is just one little tool....but it will get you started in the right direction....and get you most of the way there. But the single greatest tool at our disposal is our "brains". And it helps to have some "commonsense" to go along with it.

(Are you low on "happy-pills? Just wondering...... 8) )

 

. . DeLorme Street Atlas. I would say it's foolish to rely on it exclusively and it's equally foolish not to have it (or one like it) at all. It's just too good not to have. On the rare occasion something isn't right, it's easy to see the solution and get back on track. You get detail you couldn't imagine with any map or atlas. You get access to virtually any kind of service you might need.

I actually feel bad for the dinosaurs who never learned how to use a computer and don't have access to programs like these. They have no idea what they're missing.

 

I tend to agree with you there.... I have both MS S&T as well as PC Miler on my laptop....and tend to use them a bit now and then. Biggest problem you can sometimes run into with the computer programs....is when the city name isn't quite right for the area....and the program thinks its somewhere else. I've had that happen. Also...when I was running vans, I would occasionally get a delivery into an area where the construction was "new"....and the programs base maps didn't have the streets in it....that could be a problem. But for the most part...the programs are more of a help than a hinderance.

Though I am older than a lot of drivers....I use my laptop a lot. And yes there are "dinosaurs" out there who don't or won't.....but some of those drivers....have so much experience that they can give you directions to tons of places right off the top of their heads. I've been at this for 15 years now....and I rarely have to think about how to get from one city to the other...regardless of where it is in the country. I use the laptop to find the weird little towns in that are "WTFO"....because some of our pickups and deliveries go into and out of places like that.

In any event...the more tools, if used wisely...will make life easier, and better in the long run.