By Dave Millhouser

It had to be a printing error.

I was tooling along in one of those BIG rectangular Western states and the map showed a tiny road that would shave 50 miles off the route.

There was a minute gap in the ink, almost as if the road wasnt complete.

It wasnt.

The pavement ended exactly where the ink did, and apparently picked up on the other side of a mountain. You couldnt get there from here, and my would-be shortcut added 100 miles to the trip.

Theres a balancing act involved in determining how much latitude we allow drivers in selecting routes. (Yes, friends, a map pun.) Clearly my boss goofed in allowing me any.

Generally, scheduled runs dont allow a lot of variation, although dispatchers sometimes contact drivers to avoid traffic or detours on the normal route.

There are advantages to using the same route every time. Drivers become familiar with traffic patterns, tricky turns and other idiosyncrasies.

They also find it easier to anticipate and avoid problems, and they know the exact location of resources such as restaurants, fuel, medical facilities, lavatory dumps, and repair facilities.

If drivers run the same route each time they head to a destination, its more difficult to get lost. They can put more effort into things like maintaining proper speed and following distance, with the occasional glance at dash gauges.

On the other hand, weve all driven a road weve traveled many times in the past and, suddenly, realized we remembered nothing about the last 50 miles.

Familiarity can breed a sort of "road contempt" or "road amnesia," where everything becomes so routine the brain goes into organic auto-pilot. Im not sure of the biological mechanism but Im certain its not a safe way to drive.

Its reasonable to assume that alternating roads, adding variety to a well-worn route, would make it easier (and more fun) to pay attention.

The amount of flexibility you allow drivers in choosing their routes may be a moving target, with lots of variables. Some drivers are more adept than others at reading maps or sensing direction.

The itinerary and the preferences of the passengers are considerations. If a group does the same trip regularly, it may be ready for a change (or it may have favorite spots along the traditional road).

Charter customers sometimes ask for side jaunts or schedule changes, and in those instances, driver judgment is critical. Does the request add cost, risk or logging violations?

Where should drivers draw the line between "just doing it" and calling the office for permission? If you allow drivers discretion, you still need some sort of guidelines in place.

Sometimes a change thats good for a single bus can be a bad choice for a convoy. Road conditions, limited resources or a single driver who navigates poorly can make a big difference. Group movements require more rigid planning than an individual charter.

If you allow drivers to use electronics, such as GPS, the likelihood of them getting lost forever (along with your bus and customers) is greatly reduced. Cell phones and the Internet make it easier to find resources when off the beaten track, so familiarity with an area is less critical than in the past.

Sadly, the new technology isnt always right and may require some skills (you know, like my map reading in paragraph one). If youre going to allow gizmos, there needs to be some discussion and a formal policy about how they should be used. Some drivers thrive on familiarity, while others enjoy variety.

Whenever possible, try and match personalities to the trip.

In addition to avoiding boredom, another advantage of allowing some variations in routing is that when weather, traffic or a particularly ugly city clog a preferred road, your driver may already have some understanding of the alternatives they are now being forced to use.

As usual, I stand firmly on both sides of the issue.

Certainly, specific-route planning offers distinct advantages and efficiencies. In some cases, particularly scheduled service, it is the only alternative. The only way to prevent boredom from becoming a danger is regular stops, and reminding drivers that the road may look the same, but traffic is different every day.

The Bus Ogre is hiding in the mundane . . . looking for opportunity for mayhem.

On the other hand, when experienced drivers use good judgment, there can be real benefit in telling them where to go and letting them figure the best way to get there.

Susan once returned from work several hours late. She was a bit bored and rocketed past the familiar ramp leading to home.

Eventually, she saw a sign that said "Welcome to Maine." Nice sentiment but we live in Massachusetts.

Dave Millhouser is a bus industry marketing consultant and freelance writer. Contact him by email at Davemillhouser@gmail.com.