Pay phones, CB, and an atlas. That is the way the old timers taught me at Aliied. When I started driving 9 years ago cell phones were still very expensive(not everyone had one), qualcom was still new and used by few compaines, and GPS was unheard of in trucks along with laptops and mapping programs.

GPS is just another tool to help make the job easier.

 

 

And your POINT, Rev??

Using the free Truckermiles software on my home computer, I found Joetown, WV. I see that taking US 50 to Clarksville, then US 19 north to Shinnston, then following the SIGNS towards Wyatt, I will see a SIGN that says JOETOWN. Then, I get on the CB, or ask ANY local, and I will get the directions needed to some MAJOR construction plant that everyone in a town of 100 would know how to get to!

Wow!! Just SAVED myself 400 bucks or so, and didn't even have to bother my dispatcher! :roll:

BTW, Rev...That display you posted was no more detailed than "drawing a line in the dirt" compared to what Onstar uses. At THAT level of detail, our system would show every little county road and PRIVATE road WITH street names! I could also ZOOM in and out with a click and drag of the mouse! Also, your display shows Quadrants (if my glasses didn't fail me, whereas Onstar would give exact coordinates! But, I have STILL seen mistakes to the level of showing this little "burg" NORTH of the CR34 intersection, instead of south of it! ESPECIALLY when there is a "staggered" crossroad like CR34 is here! [now, ask me to explain WHY!]

And, maybe I'm missing something (since I'm not familiar with the program, and the legends are so small,) but I can't see whether ANY of those roads are designated truck routes or not! My MCA DID!

Going back to YOUR "test," I am too lazy to look them up in REVERSE Phone identification, but if you'll give me the phone # of one or both of them, I'll be GLAD to give you the step by step directions.... using nothing ELSE but my MCA!

Now, here's one for you! Using you GPS, tell me the shortest, quickest and BEST route from Winston-Salem, NC to Tempe, AZ! Specific addresses are NOT really important! Assume an 80k lb load..... then do it again assuming a 50k lb load!

 

You mean you used the equivelant of a computer based GPS system, minus the GPS? :roll:

So you didn't use that all-powerful MCA that you are claiming is the end-all tool for finding anything you need to find. :roll:

Anyone who paid $400 for a GPS system got ripped off. Mine cost $79, or about 3 MCA's, and it's lasted 3 times as long so far.

 

Rev, I NEVER said that one shouldn't use other TOOLS to help them. IF I was on the road for weeks at a time, I'd probably have a laptop so that I could check out the FREE truckermiles software I mentioned. Doesn't mean I follow the recommended route! Usually I ignore it and use the MCA.

My problem is with the IDEA that a gps system OR program is the BE ALL of trip routing!

And I ALSO have a problem with drivers weaving all over the road while staring at a computer screen to find an exit right in front of them! Do your trip routing BEFORE you release the brakes, and then KNOW where you are going..... or get OFF MY ROAD!

BTW.... I edited my last post while YOU were posting. Check it out.

 

Just as a side-note:

The directions you gave - US 50 to Clarksburg, US 19 to Shinnston, etc - Those are great directions - in a car.

There are 2 bridges between Clarksburg and Shinnston that have a 20 ton limit. The MCA says nothing about those 2 bridges, but my CoPilot Truck knows about them, and routes me accordingly.

Anyway - that's my last post on this topic - it's gotten too far off-base.

 

I don't need to use phone numbers to get directions. :roll:

No thanks. You didn't route mine, so I'm not routing yours.

 

golfhobo said: "Then, I get on the CB, or ask ANY local, and I will get the directions needed to some MAJOR construction plant that everyone in a town of 100 would know how to get to!"

Well let me set this up.

Town size is about 200 people.
Delivery is at the Elk Club
Delivery is for 8:00 AM Sunday morning.
It's 9:00 PM in the evening.
Town doesn't have street signs.
Only one business is open at the time of night and it isn't the address your looking for. Plus it is the only place that is big enough to turn an 18 wheeler around.
You go in and talk to the people and they don't know where the Elk Club is.

So what do you do?

As a side note the Elk Club was across the drive way from this plant and didn't have a sign on the door. I might also add I made the delivery on time.

One other thing you should know. There is a lot of CBers will give you bad directions or places where you can't get into. Same thing about getting directions from the customers.

Now about GPS. GPS doesn't give out any information. All you get from a GPS system is the ability to determine latitude, longitude and height above ground. Any program where you get mapping information is by it internal maps routines. And all these routines have errors. Plus by design GPS is only accurate to 100 meters laterally and 140 meters vertically.

OnStar is a land based system. OnStar uses a low cost GPS receiver and then uses that information to transmit to OnStar computers through one of the mobile phone networks. No mobile service in your area and you are out of luck. Plus GM has advise over 500,000 customers their system will no longer function after 1/31/07. And many can not be adapted.

Just like the the Trucker's Atlas they have known errors. Plus one other thing the Trucker's Atlas has, in every map, is a made up city that does not exist. They do that so they will know if the map has been copied. There are also cities by the same name in the same state.

Any trucker should use all the tools he/she has when laying out his/her trip. Understand because you use one system does not mean it is any better than some other system. What works for you may or may not work for another trucker. It just like getting directions. Many deliveries don't have address and your dispatch may not be able to provide you with the information. Just like using the CB to get directions I learned along time ago to not trust information I got on the CB.

kc0iv

 

 

[quote="kc0iv"] golfhobo said: Well let me set this up.

Town size is about 200 people.
Delivery is at the Elk Club
Delivery is for 8:00 AM Sunday morning.

Local P&D! You should have been told how to find it! If HALF the people in a town of 200 don't know where the Elk club is.... I'll eat my hat! IF a delivery is scheduled at an ELK Club on a Sunday morning, SOMEONE will be a contact person, and will want to be in contact to know you are coming!

It's 9:00 PM in the evening.

You mean you got into town at 9 pm the night before and STILL couldn't locate the Elk's Club before morning??? Turn in your license Driver! Look for the largest concentration of vehicles..... it's a BAR! :roll:

Town doesn't have street signs.

Hard to believe! But, whatever you say!

Only one business is open at the time of night and it isn't the address your looking for.

B.S!!! If ANY business is open at 9 pm in a small town on a Saturday night.... I guarantee it will be an Elk's Club or Moose lounge! :roll:

Plus it is the only place that is big enough to turn an 18 wheeler around.
You go in and talk to the people and they don't know where the Elk Club is.

NOT POSSIBLE in a town of this size! :roll: (ESPECIALLY if it is right across the street! ) :roll:

So what do you do?

As a side note the Elk Club was across the drive way from this plant and didn't have a sign on the door. I might also add I made the delivery on time.

One other thing you should know. There is a lot of CBers will give you bad directions or places where you can't get into. Same thing about getting directions from the customers.

Yeah, Yeah.... and the sky is green, and Bush "pulled" WTC 7! :roll:

Now about GPS. GPS doesn't give out any information. All you get from a GPS system is the ability to determine latitude, longitude and height above ground. Any program where you get mapping information is by it internal maps routines. And all these routines have errors. Plus by design GPS is only accurate to 100 meters laterally and 140 meters vertically.

Not exactly accurate, and not relevant when talking about GPS systems that are "tied" to mapping systems to give you destinations and directions. Which is what WE are discussing.

OnStar is a land based system. OnStar uses a low cost GPS receiver and then uses that information to transmit to OnStar computers through one of the mobile phone networks. No mobile service in your area and you are out of luck. Plus GM has advise over 500,000 customers their system will no longer function after 1/31/07. And many can not be adapted.

Again, not accurate. Onstar is satellite based gps, transmitted over analog AND digital comm systems. In 08, it will go strictly digital, after which IMHO, it will be next to worthless, or certainly unreliable! The point I've been trying to make, however, is that once the signal reaches OUR computers (at Onstar,) it is matched to the most advanced mapping software available! More detailed than ANY system y'all are aware of, and with faster interaction technologies than you can imagine. (BTW.... it is accurate to 20 meters, and can also show direction of travel, SPEED, and recent locations. It can be used to run diagnostics on your engine, unlock your doors, and .... recently.... can shut down your engine.)

The problem is when you type in a destination, either an address or a Point of Interest, you are relying on a human to have entered that location accurately..... and quite often it is NOT!

Just like the the Trucker's Atlas they have known errors. Plus one other thing the Trucker's Atlas has, in every map, is a made up city that does not exist. They do that so they will know if the map has been copied. There are also cities by the same name in the same state.

I don't know about all this, and I don't care. Why would anyone want to copy an Atlas, when the info is available elsewhere. If there are multiple cities in one state with the same name, they sure don't show up in a "GPS mapping program," nor in the list of cities. But, again.... who cares? But, for S and G's.... please tell me which state, which city, and which Atlas. I'd like to see for myself.

Any trucker should use all the tools he/she has when laying out his/her trip. Understand because you use one system does not mean it is any better than some other system. What works for you may or may not work for another trucker. It just like getting directions. Many deliveries don't have address and your dispatch may not be able to provide you with the information. Just like using the CB to get directions I learned along time ago to not trust information I got on the CB.

I won't argue with you about YOUR opinion. My point is that truckers need to LEARN the "trade" of navigating that is so important to their jobs. If you don't understand the highway numbering system, or compass directions, or simple things like Airport Rd goes to the Airport.... you are at a disadvantage that more than likely the best GPS system out there can't bail you out of! Sooner or later, it will FAIL you!

And I have heard NOTHING so far but REMOTE examples of the WORST scenarios to try to argue my points! Talk about desperately grasping at straws! :roll:

I agree that a trucker should be AWARE of ALL "tools" that can help, if he needs them. Heck.... I've called PIZZA shops in the middle of the night for assistance (when working for Onstar.) My point, and stated for the last time, is that RELIANCE on a GPS system for "routing" is a mistake, and a LAZY "steeringwheelholder" way of being a trucker!

But, considering the type of WUSSES we are getting in the industry these days, it doesn't surprise me one bit! Heaven forbid we should want to carry on the traditions of the INTELLIGENT, INDEPENDENT and SELF RELIANT truckers that went before us!

kc0i[v]

HOBO