I was wondering if anyone could tell me if they know of a website where I can get better/more reliable directions than Mapquest? I am a dispatcher and have promised to try and find something that the guys can rely on for directions when they go somewhere new but I haven't been very successful. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

Truckmiles.com is pretty good for an overview. You won't get local directions (door to door) but it will get you from city to city.

 

I will check that out. Thank You!

 

2 ways. look at a map before you leave on your trip. or. get on cb and ask 50 other smartasses(yes i am including myself) to give you hell for asking for directions when you could look at your map. the first one works well, good luck with the second option.

 

I use TruckMiles all the time to do a "quick" look at where I'm going. Truckmiles is based on ProMiles, so it should be pretty accurate.

 

City to City- Your driver shouldnt have a issue

To shipper/rec.- You or your driver pick up the phone and ask them how to get in from the way ur heading. They 99% of the time know where you are and the best way in.

 

I would always rely on the directions of the shipping/receiving dept of where I'm going. They would have the "best" info on the truck route to their facility and any temporary problems such as closures, detours, accidents, floods, etc., etc. along that route.

Another reason for trusting the shipper/receivers info is my company doesn't consider it my fault if that info is wrong.

That being said, it's still to your advantage to keep in mind that it can be wrong and you should always check their info against your maps and other info to make sure it makes sense. It can certainly take a second or third phone call to get it right.

I guess it's really a determination that has to be made on a stop by stop basis.

 

Microsoft streets and trips will take you door to door but you have to doublecheck for legal route as it is not set up as truck routing software.
Oh,and you have to buy it but the gps function is pretty nice and if you make a wrong turn or get sent off route by detours it will show you where you are and how to get back to where you want to be.

 

Microsoft streets and trips for door to door plus Promiles for city to city and a Map to double checking everything> I can't see anyone going wrong just takes a little extra work..Remember out of route miles cost money..

Good luck

 

The truck software (Promiles, PC Miler, etc.) is handy for checking dispatched mileages against the route you'll run, as well as getting a quick idea of your drive time with truck speed limits factored in. I don't think anyone suggests that any piece of software takes the place of checking the motor carrier's atlas and customer's directions. It's just a quick reference tool and, in the case of the web-based version, a free one.

For example, the next load I'll run - Suffolk, VA to Maumee, OH:

Stop summary from my dispatcher says 660 miles;
Truckmiles.com practical route says 674 miles (12 hours 18 minutes)
Truckmiles.com truck shortest says 608 miles (15 hours 44 minutes)
Practical with no tolls says 669 miles (13 hours 53 minutes)
I find that I generally make better time than the results suggest, but they're in the ballpark.

So I just spent three minutes running a few scenarios and, with that information, I can decide whether I want to use one of those routes or some other combination of my own. If I paid my own tolls, I could weigh the extra hour and a half of driving against the cost of the tolls and such. The original question referred to "better than Mapquest" and I'm pretty sure these routes are much better, both in terms of legality and practicality.