Dont Trust GPS

Once every year a truck ends up here because they trust their GPS so as it's been said before it is just a tool don't trust it to " get you there " First pic was Feb 2013 second was today April 2014 ! Both drivers said they followed their GPS the one today had a regular car GPS !

Once every year a truck ends up here because they trust their GPS so as it's been said before it is just a tool don't trust it to " get you there " First pic was Feb 2013 second was today April 2014 ! Both drivers said they followed their GPS the one today had a regular car GPS !

Just wanted to add 2 different bridges same stretch of road though !

Always check your route in the map. We get route directions from our company with each load that we are supposed to follow. Today, I got a pre plan and started the trip plan. Then I realized, a road they wanted me to take was not an approved truck route. I sent my fleet manager a message and asked about it. An hour later, I get a call from her saying, "Kudos! You are right. They are sending you a new route plan." Use the best tool you have.... YOUR BRAIN! I use GPS but I do not follow it blindly!

So how do you prepare for this? I'm assuming by using Rand McNally Motor Carrier Atlas during your route planning? Do you sometimes even have to get out of your truck to take a look? What's the usual approach for coming up on a bridge that isn't in the Motor Atlas, or is this an unlikely thing to happen, i.e. a bridge not being in the Motor Atlas?

I'm sure this will be covered once I start school this Monday, but am curious what some of you drivers have to say.

WT you posted right as I was typing - thanks for your mind-reading response!!!!

This one happened this morning by also following a GPS...

That was a nice bridge too....

Not sure why those drivers ignored basic bridge safety for trucks. If there are no markings or warning signs you always assume it's to low until you know for sure.

Has not happened to me to many times but the few times it did happen I stopped before getting to the bridge and turn of 4 ways and eased up to the bridge in low gear. Not only did I hang my head out the window to check the clearance but had my brother on the outside of the truck watching also. That way if I touched the bridge with the trailer there would be no damage and no road closures. People get complacent while driving.

I guess people forget the Smith System training that almost every large company does.

The driver that wrecked the covered bridge did the absolute worst thing possible. Soon as he heard the initial scrape he should have stopped and looked at what he did. Instead he sped up and went all the way through. The bridge was marked at 10 feet.

Wow what ever happened to good ole common sense. I have a GPS and it's made by Rand but it's accurate about 80% of the time. That leaves a big margin for error. WT the book is your best friend......I always take the company routing, match it up to the GPS, AND get the book out. I have heard stories from drivers that it is too much trouble, it's inconvient, and so on. Well I say crashing is pretty damn inconvient and certainly is too much trouble in my opinion. Just my thoughts.