reading a map

You're new, ask away.

First it helps to have a RandMcNally truckers map. You can use your trainers until you get on your own. He'll cover most of it if he's doing a good job. When you get enough money, invest in a laminated RandMcNally. They last 10X longer than a paper one.

The front of the map lists all the states axle weight restrictions, bridge laws, restricted routes and low clearances. The maps itself highlight the truckers routes. There are other highways you are allowed on. Check the front of the book for restricted routes. For the most part you can run US and State highways. County roads are iffy and require further checking.

Getting caught on a restricted route or restricted bridge can cost you thousands. So you have to be extra careful.

The RandMcNally truckers map is a good tool but it's not 100% accurate to some of the smaller highways. It's about 98% accurate.

You'll learn the interstate system like you know your hometown over time. Things you have to pay more attention to is when you get off the interstates and close to the customers. Many towns have one way in and one way out. It's a good habit to call the customer and ask for directions in. You'll find many larger customers have voice recorded directions in. For the most part, that's a reliable source for local truck routes. Always look for truck route signs or restricted signs.

When I first started map reading, I would lay a ruler down between the start and stop and select the closest interstates on the US map. You'll find sometimes you have more than one route you can take. In the back of the maps is a mileage chart. You have to take into consideration, how many big cities and rush hours, terrain, tolls and weather.

You figure different mileages by figuring some routes in segments. This route A to B and this route I have to add A to B and B to C. Don't hesitate to ask someone on the CB or in a truck stop until you learn. Look at each state and city maps. Many cities have loops around a city.

Learn to use and rely on your truckers map. It is your main tool of trip planning. Some companies will give you directions to follow. That is your second tool. A phone is your third resource.

When you have all that down and know how to rely on the map, then later you can start using computer software to help you. But most software are for cars and not trucks. So always rely on that map first. Software and GPS's are just aids to your other methods. You can alter them to match your map reading.

Other things on the maps are weigh stations listed with red circles.

The little red triangles and red numbers give short mileages between two points.

The black arrows and numbers are exit numbers and for the most part coincide with the mile markers you see on the interstate.

Green roads are toll roads.

In New Jersey, Trucks are not allowed on any road with "Parkway" behind the name.

Interstates running north/south are odd numbered, east/west are even numbered. There's a couple exceptions but that's the general rule of Interstate numbering.

The US interstates is numbered small to large from west to east and south to north.

All interstates are two numbers. Bypasses or loops are three numbers beginning with an even number. Spurs are three digits beginning with an odd number. A spur is an interstate that does not connect with another interstate. An example is I-575 and I-985 outside Atlanta. They feed suburb cities.

A little tidbit US-30 is the first coast to coast highway.

The RandMcNally truckers map has other pertinent info like basic hazardous materials info, pretrip inspections, logbook info, DOT phone numbers, etc.

It is your bible!

 

You mean to tell me you don,t punch numbers into that little box and just blindly follow the little voice telling me where to go. I knew i had to turn before this ten foot high bridge and six ton limit.

 

"Parkways" are also to be avoided at all cost by CMV generally ANYWHERE you see them, especially NJ, CT, NY.

Invest in a laminated atlas. They can be held open (folded around the binder) at any given page unlike a cheap atlas that has to be closed every time. They cost more but otherwise you will end up buying 3 or 4 non-laminated because of pages coming off of the staples, especially in your first couple of years of heavier use. No need to buy a new one every year. Every 2-3 years is good if your not wearing them out pre-maturely.

 

Not necessarily true . Parkways in KY are open to trucks and all tolls have been removed .

 

The top of the page is NORTH. The bottom is SOUTH.

Buy a compass !!!

Thankfully, our Pontiac came with a compass built into the mirror. Or my wife would still be "somewhere" driving in circles.

I find most people have difficulty reading a map....because they don't know north from south.

 

I grew up with a very high aptitude for geography, especially US geography and have been running North America since 1980. I take it for granted that everyone knows more or less where KY is on a US map, but many kids coming out of school today are clueless about where anything is, outside of where the grew up. Hell many might know what the state of TX looks like, but not exactly where to begin looking on a map to find TX. It's very sad the lack of basics that are being taught in school and how today's generation of graduates seem to be lacking in many fundamentals.

 

Do they even teach geography anymore ?

We had a full day of school in my day. It would seem that something would have to be eliminated with the introduction of "How Harry met Steve" courses they offer now.

 

Let's do an example:

Since you're from Tennessee we'll use Memphis for a start point. Let's say you're hauling a load from Memphis to Detroit Michigan.

Using your USA map you will see you have several route choices. You can go I-55 North, pick up I-80 East, pick up I-94 straight into Detroit. Pretty straighforward,no?

Next step, major cities encountered....

1. St Louis Missouri. Go to your Missouri state map. Find I-55 and follow it to St Louis. Note that St Louis is surrounded by a shadow box. This means there's a city map. City map shows a bypass (I-255) to keep you out of downtown. Follow the Bypass and pick up I-55 again. Ok, now you're entering Illinois.


2. Chicago Illinois. Chi-town is boxed again so find the city/area map again. Find I-55N. Aha, it joins I-80 at Exit 250. You'll note that I-80 turns Green for a bit. That means Toll Road, so get yer wallet out. Keep the reciept, mark it with your truck no and the bill of lading no for the trip. Turn it in as your co requires and get compensated. Now follow I-80E to I-94. I-94 goes straight into Detroit.

At this point you either:

(a) Find your destination on the city map (not probable since the atlas city map only shows major roads/streets).

(b) Follow company directions (usually written by Bubba or Achmed and typed up by a dispatcher who flunked spelkgen alla way since Kiddiegarten)

(c) Call customer for directions in (usually reliable unless you have no idea where you are at the moment). Write the directions down clearly and repeat em back to the guy before you hit traffic.

(d) Use your "trusty" electronic gizmo.


That's a pretty basic one. Now let's get you home again.

Reload in Pontiac Mi for Pittsburg PA. Drop there and pick up an empty. Load that in Lexington KY for Atlanta GA. Reload there for New Orleans LA. Reload that in Dallas TX for Memphis.

Let us know how you make out.