How do you people correlate where you are going?
I have to go out on my own in an Artic and I am really getting worried.
I have a truck map book and also google maps also a cheap chinese truck nav.
Does anyone have any advice and Is what I am feeling now perfectly normal?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated
Thanks
what I used to do was asked another driver to draw a map on a scrap bit of paper, whilst this is happening you normally find a lot of other drivers will come over and tell you a ‘better’ way.
it is a fail safe way tried and tested.
war1974:
what I used to do was asked another driver to draw a map on a scrap bit of paper, whilst this is happening you normally find a lot of other drivers will come over and tell you a ‘better’ way.it is a fail safe way tried and tested.
Thanks I really appreciate it. I think I am expecting to much from myself which is putting me into a mess. My boss said just take your time. I will take your advice.
Thanks again
montytom:
How do you people correlate where you are going?
I have to go out on my own in an Artic and I am really getting worried.
I have a truck map book and also google maps also a cheap chinese truck nav.Does anyone have any advice and Is what I am feeling now perfectly normal?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated
Thanks
Anxiety, normal if something is important to you.
In order to do away with anxiety you have to rationalise what it is you are doing and what could happen.
Your life does not depend on what you are doing, nor that of others, you can not get lost, no one is ever truly lost, or we would never hear from them again, people are usually helpful and nice…I have found some of the nicest people and places whilst “lost” It can be enjoyable.
You have your delivery notes ask other drivers,you can bet someone has been there before or knows the area
Look at your map book,to get you to the area,and then ASK if your Sat Nav can`t get you to your destination,that all there is to it
I think the bit your concerned about is being out on your own and having to do everything yourself, not getting from A-B
lolipop:
You have your delivery notes ask other drivers,you can bet someone has been there before or knows the area
Look at your map book,to get you to the area,and then ASK if your Sat Nav can`t get you to your destination,that all there is to it
I think the bit your concerned about is being out on your own and having to do everything yourself, not getting from A-B
Thankyou I think you could be right its a big responsibility driving something this size.
Thanks again I appreciate it
montytom:
war1974:
what I used to do was asked another driver to draw a map on a scrap bit of paper, whilst this is happening you normally find a lot of other drivers will come over and tell you a ‘better’ way.it is a fail safe way tried and tested.
Thanks I really appreciate it. I think I am expecting to much from myself which is putting me into a mess. My boss said just take your time. I will take your advice.
Thanks again
Your boss is telling you to take your time, so no need to feel you have to rush, like sais ask other drivers at you place for directions, they’ve probably been there before. Check it against you map or google maps, don’t be afraid to have a walk to check out the route if it’s looks like you’re heading for somewhere a bit tight. Nerves are normal, try and keep calm and remember take you time, orders of your boss, hopefully as he/she knows you’re new they’ve given you something pretty straight forward.
att:
montytom:
How do you people correlate where you are going?
I have to go out on my own in an Artic and I am really getting worried.
I have a truck map book and also google maps also a cheap chinese truck nav.Does anyone have any advice and Is what I am feeling now perfectly normal?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated
ThanksYour life does not depend on what you are doing, nor that of others, you can not get lost, no one is ever truly lost, or we would never hear from them again, people are usually helpful and nice…I have found some of the nicest people and places whilst “lost” It can be enjoyable.
+1
Normally the public do everything they can to annoy you,but when you’re lost they suddenly become nice. My faith in humanity was restored today by a postie that saw I was struggling to reverse into a site with cars everywhere and leaning on their horns and he used his van to block the road for me. Thanks postie 
montytom:
My boss said just take your time.
That’s all the advice you need. No points for killing anyone, or striking a low bridge.
Points tho even if you bring drops back to the yard, or miss collections. Just keep the office informed on your progress.
Use google maps to have a look at where the entrance is and the layout of where your drop is. When you put the address into your satnav move the pinpoint to where the entrance is, make sure you set the vehicle dimensions correct on your satnav, add a few inches to height. Some satnavs if you put vehicle width as 4 metres it will avoid residential streets and keep your on motorways and A roads as much as possible.
Use your satnav for the whole journey for the first few weeks, then once you get the hang over the main routes from your yard and reference points for when to come off the main road to get to other areas, you will only need the satnav for the last few miles, or even just google maps.
Mainly, don’t panic.
montytom:
How do you people correlate where you are going?
I have to go out on my own in an Artic and I am really getting worried.
I have a truck map book and also google maps also a cheap chinese truck nav.Does anyone have any advice and Is what I am feeling now perfectly normal?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated
Thanks
Don’t worry mate, we’ve all been there, after a while it will become second nature to you, and you will wonder what the hell you were worrying about…trust me on that one. 
.
Don’t worry about the artic in size terms, that can be an advantage in a lot of cases rather than a disadvantage. Most will give way to you in a 50/50 scenario apart from the idiots of course…watch for them!
You have all the right kit, bridge map, sat nav etc so just take your time plan your routes between drops, do not let them push you!! 
and just crack along at your own pace until you get used to things.
You have been given some good advice so far on here, I don’t know what type of places you are delivering to but a good tip, if you are unsure of the suitability of a route (and especially if remote) a good idea is to ring up about 5 mile away and get directions, and ask about artic suitability and turning back round etc.
I do farms in Cornwall and Devon, I would not even consider trying to get to some of them without ringing en route.
In fact many have told me not to try to come within 2 miles of their farm with an artic, and have met me with a tractor and trailer in a more spacious area to tip…better than chancing it and things going ■■■■ up.
When you do a drop or collection, get a notebook wnd write down the route for next time.
Like I say mate…It WILL come.
Good luck.
Relax… it will all come good in the end, after nearly 30 years of going to strange places the only thing i worry about now is were i.ll get some dinner
As everyone has said, get as much info on the drop as possible !!
Google maps is great but don’t rely on it 100% as i had a new drop a couple of months ago and i could not find any driver in the depot who had done it but i did get the street name…
the road was in an Ind Est and i used Google maps and it showed that it was a through road and had plenty of room to turn around if i needed to…
drove in, went about 200 metres and the road was now all fenced off !! 
the guy came out and said, eh your meant to reverse in… now you tell me ! 
I’ve been driving for 52 years and use a sat-nav, even so I still sit down with a map before setting out for somewhere I’ve not been before and write a list of the main road numbers and junctions in large writing for a quick check if necessary. On one recent occasion I didn’t bother, sat-nav sent me the long way round 12 miles out of my way.
Bernard
Sure we all had performance anxiety on our first time.
Try not to overthink it, use all the tools at your disposal.
Try stopping close to the location to recheck route, if in doubt ring them up.
Always use your eyes and be prepared to ignore the sat nav.
Overtime your knowledge of the road network will vastly increase, even quicker if you step away from the sat nav from time to time.
For now use it but don’t rely on it, it may get you out of trouble but can also get you in it big time.
Try not to over impress your employer, no prizes in this game for ■■■■■■■ first.
Oh and remember your primary role is to drive around safely, delivering stuff is a secondary side affect of that.
A couple of years of full-time class 2 multidrop work doesn’t do any harm, rather than fast-tracking to cat CE.
att:
montytom:
How do you people correlate where you are going?
I have to go out on my own in an Artic and I am really getting worried.
I have a truck map book and also google maps also a cheap chinese truck nav.Does anyone have any advice and Is what I am feeling now perfectly normal?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated
ThanksAnxiety, normal if something is important to you.
In order to do away with anxiety you have to rationalise what it is you are doing and what could happen.Your life does not depend on what you are doing, nor that of others, you can not get lost, no one is ever truly lost, or we would never hear from them again, people are usually helpful and nice…I have found some of the nicest people and places whilst “lost” It can be enjoyable.
Great advice here.
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If you have to plan your own routes, be sure you know if there are any time constraints, like must be before 10am etc. If you can, its best to start with the furthest drop and make an early start; then work your way back. That may not be possible if you have a collection after though.
Finding your way to a town, and even to an industrial estate is usually easy enough. What you want to know from experienced drivers is if the goods entrance is different to the given address, and whether there is a prefered direction to approach (for reversing in). Also, if it is a big site, where to go when you get there and what silly rules they have like hard hats and boots.
Google maps as others have said to pinpoint the exact place you are going, then sat nav to lead you there. Obviously you’ll have a rough idea of where to go from google maps, but the sat nav eliminates alot of weight limits and bridges (common sense also needed of course)
When I first started driving, id always stop when I got to my destination and rarely ever drove in without getting out on foot first to check size of yard, where to turn around etc, i made the mistake once of driving in somewhere where the only way back out was reversing in the pitch black down a country lane (it was light when I arrived).