Running Errands in a Semi Truck
Important errands pop up in everyone's life. Sometimes it's bills that have to be paid, medical appointments that have to be made, technology replaced, government forms that have to be filed, etc. Regardless of what has to be done, planning out how to do it in a semi truck is nothing short of a mission. Semi trucks have a large turning radius and rely on large parking lots for parking, they have difficulty going down certain types of streets (thin and low clearance) and in many cities they are restricted to certain areas.
What to do before trying to get to a business location:
Before attempting to go directly to a business location a driver should check out and exhaust all other options such as:
- Can it be done over the phone?
- Can the errand be done through mail, email or fax at a truck stop?
- Can the errand be done at a Walmart, Home Depot or BestBuy?
- Can it be done by someone at home or the drivers dispatcher?
If it can't be then make sure you call ahead and ask about parking in the area.
Getting to a business location
A driver must first find a location to park their semi truck. This location must either have a large parking lot with direct access to the business involved or have access to a location that has transport to and from the business. If the errand can wait about 2 weeks, a driver is best to set their home counter through their dispatcher and either be at home or at their company's terminal to take care of and errand.
However, not all errands can wait and the best solution for each driver depends on the tools and technology that they have available.
1) Navigation Software, Internet and phone:
2) A Laptop:
3) Phone only:
4) No Phone:
However, not all errands can wait and the best solution for each driver depends on the tools and technology that they have available.
1) Navigation Software, Internet and phone:
- Find the location on google maps (the most reliable mapping program so far)or another mapping program of your choice.
- Look at the map and the surrounding area. Is the location near a highway? Is the route to it truck rated (usually colored)? Is the business location have a large enough parking lot or near one? Is there a place to turn around or get back on route if the location is missed? Does the route take you through downtown? Are there bridges with clearance?
- Confirm the parking situation (if you can). If a driver can get the phone number of the business he is trying to get to then he can confirm the parking situation at it's location. The driver should be careful because not all regular citizens understand the imitations of a semi.
2) A Laptop:
- A driver can plug into a truck stops internet while fueling or parked to get the information of and directions to the business using the same steps as above.
3) Phone only:
- The driver will either need to borrow a phone book at a local truck stop and contact the business for directions, ask for directions from the truck stop staff or fall on the mercy of their dispatcher.
4) No Phone:
- It is hard to believe, but somewhere out there is a trucker still running entirely at the graces of the truck stop payphone. He or she probably would not be reading this article, but for information purposes I will put the information here.
- The driver will either need to go to a truck stop located within or near to a large city and ask for directions or fall entirely on the mercy of their dispatcher.