DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS
 

MY SON JUST STARTED DRIVING. HE HAS BEEN ALL OVER THE US WITH A TRAINOR NOW ON HIS OWN. HE IS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE DIRECTIONS GIVEN TO HIM FROM DISPATCH. THEY TELL HIM TO GO EAST OR WEST ON A CERTAIN HWY OR INTERSTATE AND THE SIGN SAYS NORTH OR SOUTH. THOUGHT MAYBE SOME OF YOU OLD TIMERS WOULD HAVE A FEW SUGGESTIONS FOR HIM. HE GETS CONFUSED ON WHICH ONE TO TAKE .

I'm not an old timer, but I think I can help :)

While most roads go in the direction labeled, sometimes they don't. For example, HW12 going into Wi from IL is labeled east and west, when it pretty much runs north/south.

Also, the dispatcher could be looking at mapquest or similar program, which sometimes is wrong.

I will add. the company I work for had a young girl adding the directions into the Qualcomm. What happened alot of times is she would put south instead of north or west vs east or vice versa.

The directions are a guide. in no way have your son follow them like they are written in blood. if he is unsure he can call the company he is delivering to and verify the directions. also he can purchase map software which will help as well if he has a laptop.

My company has the goofiest directions at times. they are supposed to come from drivers who have already been there. but sometimes i wonder.

good luck!!!

who does your son drive for? i drive for werner and they use that system called Map2It. map2it is usually only good for finding shippers and consignees. but yes that system does have some of the east west and it really means north and south. it's confusing but he will get the jist of it. best of luck to your son.

Sounds like mapquest directions :lol:

The way to fix that is to compare the directions to your road atlas. Thats the only way to learn and figure those dirs. out. ALWAYS compare to the road atlas!!!!

The North, South and East, West thing could be like I-94 between Milwaukee and Chicago. Everybody knows that Milwaukee is NORTH of Chicago, but to get from Chicago to Milwaukee, you HAVE TO GO WEST because "even numbered" interstates only go east and west. No matter what your compass is pointing to, it's east or west. (So, you can't get there from here)

If he has a laptop, I would suggest a mapping program (like DeLorme Street Atlas). Check the directions on the computer before he starts out. It's saved my bacon many more times than I'd care to count.

You mean like Wytheville, VA? Running south on I-81 also means you're running north on I-77, but truly running west.

Running that way always gives me a chuckle :D :D

Can't add anything to the comments except to agree with checking the map prior to running, calling for precise directions to shippers/receivers, and making sure to remember the next city that is in the direction of intended travel.

All the best, Tee

Even numbered hwys run east and west. Odd numbered hwys run north and south. However, some of those hwys may seem like they run more north and south than they do east and west and visa versa. Just tell your son to remember the above and buy him a routing and navigation program like MS Streets and Trips for Christmas. This will help him out tremendously.

I agree with Windwalker, here in S. E. Michigan I-94 SAYS east/west but, between Detroit and Port Huron (where I-94 ends) it is south to north---about 50 miles ! ! ! And the only exception that I can recall (north/south odd numbered) is I-75 going south from Naples Fla. to Miami it DOES say on the road signs I-75 east. Had to do a double-take when I first saw it.
BOL to your son