Advice on route planning

JC · Joined: Mar 10, 2012 Posts: 45

Hi everyone.

Just joined so please be nice to me. I drove in the RAF from 2004 - 2007 and loved trucking. Have left my job as I got no satisfation from it. Going to drive in civvy street as driving trucks is what I am passionate about. When I drove in the RAF, we were exempt from tachographs. And also the routes were planned for us by the convoy commander so we never had to worry about bridges and heights etc. Can anyone give me tips on these two topics please? All help appreciated. I am extremely nervous. Waving

triple-tango · Joined: Dec 31, 2011 Posts: 204 Location: Holbeach, Lincs

My advice would be to find a local DCPC course on tachos.

JC · Joined: Mar 10, 2012 Posts: 45

Thanks for the advice.

Bigger Birdie · Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 8:28 am Post subject:

Hullo JC, welcome to the PDF Waving

Route planning is as much art as science at times.

In theory the shortest route between two points is the quickest, but at times going a longer way on better roads rather than ploughing through a town centre will pay dividends.

Equally on occasions taking an A road between Town A and Town B is more efficient than returning to the nearest motorway. But there are times when the motorway is the better choice despite the extra mileage involved.

Making the right choice depends on the size of the vehicle and the load upon it ,as well as the time of day. I use some routes to avoid peak time traffic on others, and some roads I try to miss when I'm loaded.

A lot of it comes down to trial and error, and asking other drivers. Most drivers will happily share their routing knowledge, and if you come accross a route that works for you, stick with it.

I use a TomTom sat nav and a bridge height map myself, and have done for years now. The sat nav is invaluable for the final mile, particularly in towns. The bridge map I use to sort out my best route between places, even those I know. There is a foot or so difference in height between our lowest trailers and the higher ones, which means that just because I got in there last week, I might have to go another way the next time with a different trailer.

Using a map also lets you see all the roads in an area, making selecting the best one for you much easier.

HTH
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squarepeg · Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 9:34 am Post subject:

Hi JC

Welcome on board. We're nice to everyone Laughing

As said Tachographs and hours rules are (or can be) so complicated that I would strongly advice taking a proper day's course on them. This counts towards your DCPC which you will need in any case by 2014 should you be exempt (or before you start if you're not)

Route planning is an art in itself and 30 minutes spent planning before you start can save hours later.

You will need (at Best)

A Good Bridge height and weight restriction Map (Collins or AA)
A ruler
And if possible a sat nav.
When planning use the ruler to plot the shortest route between the two points i.e. a straight line. Then select the best roads in this order.
Motorways
Major trunk roads ( green)
Other A roads
Only use roads less than these if there is no alternative. with the bridge height map you'll be able to see and avoid low bridges and weight restrictions.

As Birdie says only rely on your sat nav for the last mile or so and then only if you're sure it's not taking you down a farm track. if in doubt stop and ask.

Clues to help.
Is your trailer hitting overhanging trees? If so be afraid.
Can you see trucks the same height as yours coming the other way. Good

Are there tyre marks on the road where other vehicles have turned in? Good.

Having said all that many companies now offer route maps into deliveries, ask before you leave.

You have no doubt come across the 5 P's in you former life and they certainly apply in transport.
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Squarepeg ([])

S L O G A N

WelshandProud · Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 10:17 am Post subject:

one for you to read JC

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/publications/manualsandguides/drivershoursandtachographguides.htm
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JC · Joined: Mar 10, 2012 Posts: 45

Big thank you to biggerbirdie and welshandproud. You're comments are much apprecited. Cheers.

JC · Joined: Mar 10, 2012 Posts: 45

Squarepeg, thanks also. Thanks for taking the time to write.

JC · Joined: Mar 10, 2012 Posts: 45

Any ideas folks on the best sat nab for trucking?

JC · Joined: Mar 10, 2012 Posts: 45

Sat nav, apologies.

john (smiffy) · Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 10:54 am Post subject:

pronav is a system for truck some of the new tom tom are good as well

http://www.pronav.co.uk/
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cheers
john

JC · Joined: Mar 10, 2012 Posts: 45

Nice one John. Thank you.

JC · Joined: Mar 10, 2012 Posts: 45

Does anyone use the Pronav PNN220 or PNN 300? Any good?

john (smiffy) · Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 6:14 pm Post subject:

i use the pronav 300 not a bad bit of kit if set up with all paramiters
also use my tomtom go 500 as it stores my phone numbers when i connect to it by bluetooth i can leave phone zipped up in pocket an recieve/make calls through it

pronav can bluetooth to phone but does not store numbers
so you still need to operate the phone to make a call
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cheers
john

JC · Joined: Mar 10, 2012 Posts: 45

Thanks John.