Please Advise

I have a friend that is fairly new to trucking, she is constantly having troubles navigating with the Qualcomm (get her lost). She has a Rand Mcnally atlas and is using dry erase marks, which I think is a good start. Is there something you guy/gals use as a backup that accommodates truck routes.

I'm thinking about this as a new career to and she is not giving me a warm fuzzy, although I'm far superior in navigation than she is (not being mean). Just trying to offer her some help.

Ray, as a new driver I would sit down and plan out my whole route from point A to point B. I would use google maps and google earth, and write every little detail down in a spiral notebook - each road, each turn, right into the gate of my destination.

If and when the Qualcomm lost a signal, or just wasn't doing right, I'd have already been down this path in my head several times. I could easily refer to my notes and keep myself from getting turned around or lost. The GPS is just one tool in our tool box. The problem with many new drivers is that they rely on it so heavily.

Proper trip planning should alleviate her problems. Most new drivers have never been taught how to plan a trip, and from what my driver manager tells me, many experienced drivers don't know how to do this either.

You know, that is an interesting observation because at least in my school which I have been told is one of the top ranking schools in the country maybe internationally but not sure about that, taught fellow students and I about trip planning. Not to brag but I even showed up my instructor lol. I am just having fun with that, but seriously, why are people not being taught how to do this? Is it because a lot of instructors are just being lazy?

As a company trainer, it's my responsibility to make sure they can trip plan.

I keep dry erase markers and the laminated atlas just for that reason... to teach them. I also write down the entire route before leaving out. Yes I have a gps, but it is NO substitute for an atlas and written directions. and our student drivers aren't allowed to use a gps except for a couple of days before testing out.

Never rely on the GPS. What if it loses signal? My rand McNally went out the other day and I posted about it. I've had the Qualcomm go down for hours....I write out my route ahead of time. One of.my fellow drivers parked until the system came backup then blamed the QC for him being late. No excuse.

After awhile you drive the same routes all the time and know exactly where you are.going. what I use the GPS for is to tell me exactly how.many miles it is to my next point to ensure I have the drive time.

You can name a state and interstate and I can tell you the exit numbers of the truck stops I park at regularly.

My advice is write out the route and also write down the exits of large truck stops along it...one every hundred miles or so.