Maps Or GPS

In reading all the materials to bring to schools and orientations (I've been pouring over the Company Sponsored Schools and Company sections quite heavily) I see that it says to bring an atlas, such as Rand. Are atlases still the preferred tool to trip plan, GPS, or a combination of both? I still have a ways before I get to that part, but my brain keeps flooding with questions, so I thought I would ask.

Sam P. asks:

In reading all the materials to bring to schools and orientations (I've been pouring over the Company Sponsored Schools and Company sections quite heavily) I see that it says to bring an atlas, such as Rand. Are atlases still the preferred tool to trip plan, GPS, or a combination of both? I still have a ways before I get to that part, but my brain keeps flooding with questions, so I thought I would ask.

I use both. The Rand-McNally Trucker's Road Atlas is the fall back I use to ensure my GPS is not routing me on a road that has truck related restrictions. Most of the time the GPS (Navi-Go) I use is correct, but it does on occasion attempt to route me on roads a large semi should avoid. The rule of thumb is never rely entirely on the GPS. In addition it will periodically drop the satellite connection and/or be unavailable due to a software upgrade or other maintenance issue. In either of these cases the GPS is not an option and the Atlas becomes the primary mapping tool.

The rule of thumb is never rely entirely on the GPS. In addition it will periodically drop the satellite connection and/or be unavailable due to a software upgrade or other maintenance issue.

This only happens when you are facing a major fork in the road....