This title might get you thinking about whether you stumbled across a blog post from 30 years ago. Before GPS and Mapquest, finding your way around meant unfolding that giant accordion of a paper roadmap and figuring out directions yourself. It may seem like a relic of the past, but reading a road map shouldn’t be overlooked, especially for truckers and those who spend their time traversing the US. Why are road maps important for drivers and truckers, and how exactly do you read one? We’re here to help you look like a hero the next time the GPS fails, and the only option for navigation is the paper road map shoved into the glove box.

 

Why A Road Map is Important for Drivers

 

Technology and apps on our phones have made road maps obsolete, but it’s still beneficial to know how to use one if you spend time on the road. In times when you’re stuck without a signal or your GPS has led you down one wrong turn too many, having backup navigation can be a lifesaver. Even if you don’t work on the road, most of us have experienced GPS glitches, rerouting failures, and more when navigating. If you’re planning a road trip, especially heading to a national park, knowing how to read a map will add comfort to your trip. National parks don’t have cell towers, and service is sometimes minimal to non-existent in these areas. You’ll sometimes receive a map of a national park at the entrance, and knowing how to read even this kind of map will be beneficial.

 

Certain parts of the US have been known to fail even GPS service, including places like what some refer to as “The Bermuda Triangle of Washington” near Seattle, where service can bizarrely drop. Some parts of the US have limited cell phone service, and although losing service will continue your navigation, you will still be limited to the route previously entered, and any changes will leave you without further navigation.

 

Understanding the Parts of a Road Map

 

-City and Street Lists
The index lists the cities and streets on the map, so you’re not aimlessly searching for locations. If you get lost, look around for town names you can locate in the index and find on the map. The cities are laid out in a grid pattern with numbers and letters representing coordinates to help identify the locations of places.

-Compass and Legend
The compass is self-explanatory; if you know the direction you’re driving, turn the compass on the map to match it, and your route will make more sense. The legend explains the lines, markings, and designations on the map. It differentiates between highways, minor roads, rivers, and bridges.

 

 

-Measuring Distance
You can measure the distance between one location and another on a map. The scale on a map can be part of the legend or stand by itself and can be identified by a line with a number between it indicating the corresponding distance that measurement of the line is on the map. Using a finger or other measuring device, you can count the times that line measurement is used to reach the destination. Multiply that with the number in the legend, and you will have your required distance.

 

Why Truckers Should Know How to Read a Road Map

 

If you’ve been trucking longer than 20 years, you know how to read a roadmap already because it was the only option for navigation before satellites and other technology. Truckers would carry a road atlas on the long haul, a collection of maps covering a larger area. The US road atlas covered the entire nation and was a trucker’s bible with unique places and instructions written on it, keeping secrets only other drivers knew. They would plan their routes via their atlases and often write their turn-by-turn directions on paper or index cards for frequently completed routes.

 

 

Today, global positioning devices navigate us to any destination our hearts desire. Still, when your cellphone dies, your GPS stops working, or you drive through an area without service, you’ll reach for that paper map, elated you know how to read it.

 

Follow our blog for more trucking news and highlights, and check out our employment opportunities and requirements if you are interested in a trucking job.

 

Other Recommended Readings from our Blog:

Why a Truck Driving Job Is the Best Job

Truck Stops with the Best Food

Different Kinds of Truck Driving: FedEx, Amazon, or Reefer Division