CoPilot Truck GPS Laptop System

If you're worried about the truck's harsh ride punishing your Laptop, you can always opt for a Solid State Drive (SSD) instead of a regular Hard Drive (HDD). The only moving parts on your laptop would be the HDD, CD (DVD, CDR) drives and the fan. By changing to SSD you would eliminate the majority of laptop failures due to punishment when riding a vehicle.

One added benefit by using an SSD over a HDD is the noticeable speed increase. On the down side SSD has less capacity and much more expensive.

So if money is not an issue, I would go for a SSD. But if money is an issue I'd go with a stand alone portable GPS. The benefit's of using a portable GPS is that it actually is easier to read or look at the screen in daylight when compared to regular laptop screens.

 

What percentage of long haul truckers use electronic systems such as GPS and mapping software? I understand that it is a convenience and will probably be standard equipment on new trucks in just a few years. But, right now and recently, what are the figures for long haul truckers that use such systems?

Similarly, do these systems solve any problem that you guys have? I mean, do these mapping systems "just" make your job easier, or do these systems solve a problem that has been nagging long haul truckers forever.

Are salaried long haul truckers provided with routing information by their company, or are truckers responsible to acquire their own atlases or software, much like contruction workers are required to own their own hand tools.

Thanks in advance to all who take the time to read or reply.

 

i use a gps for NAVigation purposes, and yes it makes my life SOoooo much easier,better. try driving in SO. CALI without one, now that would be stressful imo.

 

I would say the smarter ones have made the move.

Life is so much easier with mine. It helps me work less, and make more money.

Of course, not all GPS are equal. None are 100%. So I still have to check routing. Don't want to get stuck under a bridge.

 

I have a TomTom One and I wouldn't leave home without it. It makes life in a truck soooo much easier than the old days!

That being said, here are a few pointers and suggestions I have for those of you who are thinking about getting one.

1) I have tried quite a few of them and the TomTom is the best in my opinion for one simple reason—it's #### fast at looking up addresses and street names. The others can be annoyingly slow. Just as quickly as you can punch in a partial name, it comes up with all matches.

2) You absolutely must spend the time to make sure the route it gives you is ok for trucks. Most of the time I will get directions into the place from my dispatcher, and then program the route by hand using the "Itinerary" function—adding each street as a waypoint. That way I'm assured that the route I'm on is correct. The GPS will then remind you as a turn comes up, without having to drive 5 mph looking for street signs—to everyone else around you, it looks as if you've been there a hundred times.

3) Don't follow your GPS as the word of god—you still have to use common sense and double check where you are going. Highways are built and rerouted from time to time.

My favorite examples:

"Tommy" tells me to "Make a U-Turn" when I'm traveling down the wrong side of the highway due to construction detours.

Or Tommy shows me running off through the trees and constantly reroutes because they've rebuilt and rerouted a highway (331 in Florida), and it hasn't been updated in software yet.

In cases like those, I'll shut it off until I'm through the area.

All in all, I'd highly recommend a GPS unit for any OTR driver. They are the best thing since sliced bread and oil in plastic bottles.

 

I think of you every time I pass exit 158 on I80 and think of your crazy GPS that tried to route you down that road.

 

LMAO, you shoulda seen where it routed me the other day

Did you ever drive down and see that road?

 

I have a Garmin StreetPilot C430. It doesn't just say "turn right in 300 feet", making me guess which of the 3 streets is the one I want it. It reads out loud the name of the street! I've used a Magellan (POS) and while Cobra makes good CB radios, the navigation was HORRIBLE! Garmin really is the way to go, although I can't comment on Tom Tom because I've never used one. You can type the name of your favorite (stored-in favorite places), and it will read it too! While training in Fort Wayne, I typed the name of the motel as "The $***hole Motel" and it said "in .4 miles, arrive at The $***hole Motel on right!"

I'd love to find a GPS that could give low heights, rest areas, safe havens and weigh stations. Maybe a built in radar detector would be nice too

When looking for a GPS device, try to find one that uses NavTek GPS software.

 

Didn't need to, once I recognized it I can remember driving down it years ago in my 4x4. I just can't understand what kind of a computer glitch would route you down there instead of sending you on the dedicated exit. But I laugh every single time I pass it.

 

New driver currently using iGuidance on my laptop (hoping to try out CoPilot sometime before I spend that large chunk of change on it). I have to say it makes things a LOT easier.. so long as you verify routing before you start. My co-driver and I usually set it up with the address, and then run through the atlas once just to make sure we won't be routed through any restricted routes or low clearances. I would argue that at this time it is not the end all be all for routing, but it is an exceptionally useful tool.