Navigation Tips for the Commercial or Owner Operator Truck Driver

There’s a lot of technology that help commercial or owner operator truck drivers plan out their routes and find their way. It seems as if every truck driver has their own favorite device and/or app for this purpose. With all these choices, the whole business of navigation can seem a bit overwhelming. Rather than recommending a specific device, method, or app, we would like to list some general tips that will make your navigation easier to do:

Don’t Use Maps, GPS, or Apps Meant for the General Public

There is a world of difference between car navigation and commercial or owner operator truck navigation. All roads, bridges, and overpass clearances are built at minimum to accommodate the weights and dimensions of cars, SUVs, minivans, and pickups. However, this is not true for tractor-trailer rigs. Not all bridges were designed for fully loaded trucks, many overpass clearances are too low, and many roads don’t allow trucks especially those carrying hazardous materials.

Before buying maps, GPS systems, or apps, make sure they are meant for motor carriers. Failure to do this may cause you to shear off the top of your trailer or worse. Just because it’s sold at a truck stop, doesn’t mean it’s meant for truckers. A sizeable amount of the truck stop’s business is the general public and they cater to them as well.

Use Real Road Maps as Backups

Get a quality road atlas book (such as Rand-McNally) for commercial or owner operator truckers. Why would anyone need such a primitive thing as paper maps? Because GPS devices break down, make mistakes, or can’t get a good satellite fix. Apps can be wrong as well, and your mobile device, tablet, or computer can stop working for a variety of reasons. When having a bad day with your navigation devices, it’s always nice to have an atlas around to keep you from getting lost. Even when your devices work fine, it’s always a good idea to verify their directions with a map.

Use Google Maps Street View

While this isn’t a necessity, it will make things easier when trying to find an address for the first time. The street view will show you exactly what your destination will look like. You may even get a view of the shipping dock.

Call the Customer for Directions

This can serve as another check on your other navigation methods. Talk directly to the shipper/receiver since they have the most experience giving out directions. This is highly recommended for densely populated areas where direction finding is especially difficult.

If you would like information about our commercial or owner operator truck insurance in South Carolina, contact us today.