Ice Box Igloo
Trucking and Travel Resources
When you're hitting U.S. highways, life can be a little lonely. There are some resources you want take with you, no matter what the purpose of your trip, if you're traveling far and long term.
Carriers Rand McNally Deluxe Road Atlas
The regular atlas or a AAA trip tick is fine for the novice or the occasional traveler. But if you're in it for the long term, you want the luxury This laminated, spiral monster. You can use it for years without ripping the pages, you can write to it without bleeding through and you can spill coffee on it without affecting the clarity.
Within its pages you will find a wealth of information. The numbers for the transport associations U.S. Highway and Canada, by the DOT and state police for national hotel chains, and the climate of the state and the construction of information. The regulations for the road-legal weight limits, restricted routes (though not all-inclusive "), under bridges (although not necessarily all-inclusive") inspection procedures, documentation requirements and regulations logbook. If you take the time to read all the information in the front of the Road Motor Carriers' Atlas will come away with more knowledge than when you started.
Most locations of weigh stations are relatively accurate, although there are weigh stations in use that are not marked in the atlas. More road transport regulations are current and accurate, but the information is not available application. CoopsAreOpen has the most complete and current weigh station scales and DOT standards.
You can buy the Atlas Deluxe Motor Carriers' stops in most trucks or online at the website of Rand McNally. The cost will depend on what time of year of purchase. The later in the year, the lower the price (and that new editions of out toward the beginning of a new year). Prices range from $ 30 – $ 65. It also comes in a large print edition.
Guide to the truck stop
Any truck stop guide to do-always and when you have places, phone numbers, and a list of services. A "pocket guide truck stop" is fine if you already know the places and faces. But for the rest of us, a more detailed guide is a good idea. You'll be glad you spent the money if you need to know where the best places to stop on the road before you.
Truck stops used in the sense of good food and friendly people. It is not always true these days, but you have a better chance to find these at a truck stop (or near) what to do if you just throw caution to the wind and hope for the best. Truck guides will tell you which truck stop ceases to have 24 hours of service, repair shops and restaurants. You can usually measure the size of the truck stop by the lot size listed in guide.
If you have to wash clothes, receive a fax, receive a benefit (FedEx, UPS or DHL type), take a shower, or just off the road by some hours, a truck stop is a safe bet. A truck stop guide will tell you what services truck stops are and provide the phone number if want to call ahead to get the fax number or address. (Learn how to get a fax number that sends and receives faxes using your email address current address. Try eFax free – instant activation.)
Just do not be surprised to discover that when it comes, the heavenly sanctuary to wait Roach is a ranch instead of trucks braking guides do not include rating systems. And many truck stops do not allow to use the shower unless you are a trucker.
You can buy a variety of guides truck stop at bus stops most of the trucks. Prices range from $ 13 – $ 30.
Electric Cooler
Most drill rigs and other vehicles are not equipped with refrigerators, so that a refrigerator makes sense. Electric coolers (made by Igloo or Kool-a-tron) are connected to the right the cigarette lighter socket, no need to drain the water constantly and fill with ice. They are great for drinks and, in the short term, for consignments of milk. No cool temperatures cooling, so foods that require refrigeration will go wrong faster.
The restaurant meals and other truck stop restaurant road can be very expensive over time. Be able to keep some commodities like milk, cold cuts and mayonnaise can help keep costs down and make small meals more enjoyable.
The double electric refrigerators, food warmers, too. So if you are traveling with prepared foods, you can keep them warm their destination. Most truckers do not have a travel electric refrigerator with a large refrigerator and use it to keep food and cold drinks.
You can buy an electric refrigerator stops most of the trucks or in many super-stores. Prices range from $ 70 to $ 120 for large electric refrigerators.
Global Positioning System – Satellite Navigation
Traveling with a map is great, but traveling GPS can make the course much easier navigation. GPS indicates the exact position as it relates to the mapping and routing software determines the course and give turn by turn directions. Magellan, Pioneer, Alpine, Streets and Trips, all of them have a good mapping software. There are plenty of other systems, too. These are designed with cars in mind, however, eighteen-wheeler. So, you want to keep that in mind if you're driving anything bigger than an SUV.
There is a GPS mapping system designed for commercial vehicles called CoPilot Truck. It is designed to follow the truck routes and avoid low bridges and routes that may be harmful to a truck driver to use. However, it is always the driver's responsibility to know where they are or are not allowed and to use their own judgments about the location you choose.
Never trust your GPS completely. GPS is a wonderful help, but if you trust him without using common sense and their own ability to navigate and follow the instructions may be in trouble from time to time. Road closures, map inaccuracies and incorrect addresses are concerns when it comes use routing equipment. Make sure you have a handle on where you are and where will all the time, just to be on the safe side.
You can buy GPS system stops most trucks, electronics stores and super-type stores. It's best to shop around. Most navigation units GPS requires a laptop to run, although there are on the board and handheld GPS systems. Prices of individual units range from several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars.
Cellular phone
When cell phones first came out was an expensive investment. Local plans often were 20 cents per minute roaming or long distance calls could put in the poor house fast. These days, you can find a reasonably priced service plan that is designed to meet your needs.
Cingular, Verizon, Sprint PCS, Nextel, and all have good plans and coverage areas. You also have the option of prepaid phones, which can help if you operate with a budget (never buy more than you can pay.)
Cell phones are good to have in case of an emergency or break. But they are also good for keeping in touch with loved ones. You will find that worth the expense to talk on a cell phone instead of trying to have a private conversation in a public telephone in a truck stop, even in a private phone booth.
You can buy a cell phone stops most trucks, grocery stores, super-type, electronics stores and individual cell company stores. Cell phones may be free or with a service contract to several hundred dollars. prices plans vary greatly depending on what your needs are.
Citizen Band Radio (b)
The stone is cb radio angle of truck drivers. You'll be hard pressed to find a trucker who does not have one, although there are truckers out there who choose to travel without the box Squak, as sometimes called.
Many people are hospitalized in the CB (radio and ham) lifestyle. You'll see cars running around with huge radio antennas and dragging the bars keep the car grounded for good reception, not a good idea in a lightning storm. You'll see the big truck with antennas with coils of them pointing forward at an angle. Many of the truckers pay large sums of money to gain power in their big radios.
Until you are sure of what you want, you have to start small. You can spend a lot of money and you do not know what you're buying, it is possible that you spent money unnecessarily. Building, 25 or 29 Cobra Cobra will have no problem. You can take it to a radio studio in a truck stop that has a good reputation to get it, "came and refined" and "matched to your antenna" and get good use out of it.
The CB radio is very useful during bad weather and traffic situations. You can talk to other drivers and find out what roads are like before you and hear warnings of dangerous situations that may arise. You will also find that there are a lot of people BC use as your personal entertainment, talking non-stop and harassing other drivers. It is sometimes difficult to get the information you are looking for because there is much talk on the airwaves. However, it is a good idea to have a CB radio so you can communicate verbally with the drivers around them when necessary.
If you are new road or cb radios, you will find that the truckers have their own language. They will be able to select as a beginner or a novice, do not bother trying to be a talker at first. There are some drivers who pick on you until you can "mix", but most drivers are helpful and will not mind talking with a traveling companion.
You can buy a cb in truck stops and most electronics stores. Prices range from $ 20 – $ 30 all the way to hundreds of dollars.
Satellite Radio
The birth of satellite radio was a major milestone for the trucking industry. The Most of the truckers who subscribe to one of the two services (XM Radio or Sirius Radio) can not be imagined without satellite radio truck, although they did for years. For most truckers, satellite radio is not an option … has become a necessity.
Hours and hours of driving can lead to boredom. It's frustrating to lose a morning or an FM radio station that I have been listening. Both XM and Sirius have hundreds of talk, comedy, sports and music venues that will not go away no matter how far you drive.
The satellites orbit the earth at the southern U.S. so that most driving north, the more likely you are to experience a blocked signal. If you are running through a valley between mountains or through a tunnel, its signal can be cut until you reach clear sky again.
If you are using the little "mouse" antenna that comes with most satellite systems, you'll want sure it is properly inserted into the top of your vehicle. If you mount the antenna on one side is possible that if you travel east or west and the antenna is on the side north of the truck, your vehicle will block the antenna to get a signal. If you are parked on the north side of a department store, the antenna can be locked to receive a signal.
The bigger your vehicle, chances are you may want to switch to a radio antenna satellite truck. These are larger and more like a CB antenna mount. They will have a stronger signal in situations where the antenna of the mouse may lose the signal.
Some truck companies offer satellite radio systems and / or service for their drivers, but for those who have to pay on their own, worth the expense.
You can buy a satellite radio systems at the stops of most trucks, electronics stores and car stereo shops. Prices range from less than $ 100 for a plug-and-play unit to several hundred for a radio on the board. You also need to purchase the service provider for about $ 15/month to experience satellite radio.
About the Author
www.coopsareopen.com is a website dedicated to improving the lives of truckers. www.coopsareopen.com provides weigh station information that matters to truckers.
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