Question:
for someone like me that does not have much exp in map reading what are some things i can do to become better map reader is there a way to study or what ? i can do the basic stuff how many miles ect its the where do i fule, go to sleep, i here guys that narrow it down to the town they are going to do everything how do you do it?
Answer:
In the front pages of the Motor Carriers Atlas, there are a bunch of pages that you NEED to become familiar with.
Those pages cover the basics on;

HazMat tips
Motor Carrier Programs
Fuel Tax rates per state
Important Daily Documents
On-The-Road Resources (radio stations, hotels, Telephone Area Codes)
State Access Policies
Longer Combination Vehicles
National Weight and Size Provisions
State Weight and Size Limits
State and Provincial Contacts (for permits and such)
Restricted Roads (Height & weight,by state)
Map Legend (what each symbol on the map stands for)

Take some time and read through these pages, a lot of your questions will be answered.

Answer:

Fueling:
The company you work for will tell you where to fuel in some fashion or another. They will do this by either giving you a list of all the fuel stops you can use nationwide and then you choose where to fuel from a stop that is along your route, or they will tell you to fuel at a specific location that will be along you route.
Sleeping:
A map will not do you much good by itself trying to figure out where to shut down for the night at (unless you simply are looking for rest areas). You will need a truck stop or exit guide of some kind to use in conjunction with a map.
Once you have your route figured from shipper to reciever you need to estimate how far you can go before your HOS dictate you must shut down. Look in your atlas to see about where that is and then go to your exit guide to find truck stops in that general area. (While in your atlas be sure to note any rest areas in the area you plan to shut down in.)
Answer:
http://users.adelphia.net/~pwolf/controlcities.html
The Interstate Highway System generally follows a couple of simple rules. For two digit roads, east/west roads have even numbers, and north/south roads have odd numbers. The n/s routes start out west with I-5 and increase in value until you get out to I-97 in Maryland. The lowest even number Interstate is I-4 in Florida; as you go north you can go up to I-96 across Michigan. The one other rule is that roads divisible by 5- 5, 10, 15, 20, etc. tend to be the major roads that cross most, if not all, of the country.
Seems pretty simple so far right? Well we then get to the exciting issue of the 3 digit Interstates. Most Interstates have children when they reach major cities. If the baby Interstate goes through the city or all the way around the city, then it will start with an even number. If it stops somewhere in the city, then it gets an odd number. For example, in Pittsburgh I-279 loops from I-79 into the city and then reconnects with it further north. In contrast, I-376 leaves I-76 to go into Pittsburgh and ends downtown. In principle this shouldn't be that big of a deal, but in practice it is frequently debatable as to whether the first number should be even or odd. Some highly questionable choices have been made, which annoys a lot of us road geeks (and don't even get us started on I-238).
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If you look at the list of control cities at the above link for your area and than go look at the signs in your area you will see what it's about.
Every onramp for I-40 in OKC will either have a sign pointing to Amarillo or Fort Smith,not to the next little hick town or the town where the governor grew up or whatever somebody on a power trip thought would be a nice town to put on the sign.
Or I-35
Wichita, Dallas/Fort Worth
So all arounf OKC you have only 4 places the signs say
Wichita,Dallas/Fort Worth,Amarillo or Fort Smith
some of the control cities used on the signs are nowhere's ville,it's just a place they choose to use,like Breezewood PA population 200 people and 500 truckers everynight,but I-70/76 split at that point.
So If your going north on I-95 on the east coast and heading for maine,you don't have to follow the I-95 signs,just the list of control cities
Miami, West Palm Beach, Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Savannah, Florence, Fayetteville, Benson, Rocky Mount, Petersburg, Richmond, Washington DC, Baltimore, Wilmington, Chester, Philadelphia, Trenton, George Washington Bridge, New York City, New Haven, New London, Providence, Boston, Portsmouth, Kittery, Portland, Augusta, Bangor, Houlton
If your in Delaware and follow the sign for Philly instead of NY City,you will get screwed,I-95 was never completed and the NY City sign will take you onto the NJ Turnpike which is the way you want to go,your not going to philly,so don't follow that sign,your going past NYC so head that way,that is about the only real screw up in the highway system signs and routing.
so you really don't have to route yourself through major metropolitain areas,just know where you want to end up once your past them and follow the signs pointing that way
you will make mistakes,you will screw up and you will get better at it.If you go through training with a big company,you have plenty of time to see how to do it,even if your trainer is a dud and just says take this road to this road and never has you figuire it out on your own,get out the map and do it yourself before a trip and than ask questions why your route don''t match the way you are being told to go.
Answer:
I suggest that you get a "National Truck Stop Directory" (www.truckstops.com). If your intended route goes for miles and miles without a large truckstop along the way, there is usually a better route available.
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I use the interstate highways and, if necessary, US highways to connect the interstates to get to my destination. I avoid state and local roads if at all possible.

Answer:
One other thing - Use a TRUCK ATLAS!! Hoss listed the information available in the front but the "Truck Legal Routes" are all highlighted.
ZigZag also gave some great information. The only thing is, the knowledge and experience he is passing on is something we, as newbies, are in the process of gaining , but he's guiding us down the right route, so to speak...
If you work for a company that routes you, CHECK the route against the "Truck Legal Route" highlights in the atlas. YOu're going to have to be very careful of the routes your given into new areas unless you have been there before.
Also, never, ever be afraid to ask law enforcement people if a route is safe. They won't steer you wrong and can tell you if any recent accidents or construction is going to hinder you.I ride for those who can't! POW/MIA - You are NOT forgotten!!
Lead, Follow or get out of my way!!!

Answer:
With a little practice you will be able to not only estimate your time of arrival to within 15 minutes, but you can estimate when and where you will hit scales, make meal and fuel stops to within a few minutes. Generally I'm given way more time than is necessary to get to a destination and it causes some consternation with my dispatchers when I bump the dock five to ten minutes early every time. They wonder why I'm never late due to a wreck or heavy traffic. It's simple, I plan my run from start to finish and include slow downs for weigh stations, meal stops, fuel stops and I allow at least an hour for wreck avoidance, more if city traffic warrants it. When I'm only 50 or so miles away and I'm three hours early, I stop and get something to eat, shave and get cleaned up for my delivery. Then I bump the dock at the prescribed time, fresh and presentable.
Everything discussed here will help you to practice. Read your map book, when off duty. Study the individual maps and information on each state, any time you get. Learn the symbols and what they mean. Look for them on each page. Take the dang thing to the head with you for reading material. What will make you proficient at reading a map is reading one. Practice makes perfect.Wayne