GPS Tips for my new job ?

All depends on how often said company gets the maps updated from navteq. 3 months? 6 months? Yearly? Rand is updated every 6 months I believe.

 

For local pickup and delivery I would not use a 'normal' GPS! (Unless you want to get a lot of tickets for running streets you are not supposed to be on, bridges, etc) You can't count on any GPS. You need to pay attention. I wouldn't count 100% on any 'electronic' means of navigation, google maps, etc. Do you know how old some of those satellite images are, and do these buildings and streets stay the same year, after year? Use your brains, and eyes. If these electronic things could get these trucks in/out of all the places we need to go, NOW, we would be replaced by robots, NOW.

 

Now thats a very good point ! they have systems in place now to do just that !But i hope it never comes to that, even tho alot of people shouldnt be driving anything.

 

I use the Garmin 760 Dzl. It is very good, but I always second guess it with very detailed maps. It will have a preference for a route that will take me 100 miles out of route. Our main customer's yard is on a heavy haul paved road; the Garmin will try to route me down the gravel road west of the proper road every time, despite the signs at the highway that clearly indicate, "no heavy trucks", and, "not a through road"! When I ignore it, it immediately routes me to the road immediately east of the proper road, which is a left turn onto a dirt road, and then another left turn onto a dirt service road. Then it has me make a right turn onto the road I should have been on origionally. Trust it? You bet! Double check it's decisions? Every time!

 

Can't trust google either,best to get directions from customer.

 

I've had them be wrong a lot too.
It's best to use all tools at your disposal- GPS, google maps, atlas, customer directions, cb, ask a fellow driver, read tea leaves, consult a psychic, guess, but most importantly use common sense.

 

some of the Chinese are pretty smart, never been to the US though.

 

I had a Garmin 760 when I was Otr. Up in Gary it always wanted me to get off on no truck exit to go over to i65. You can set that road to never route you on again. After I set that up. I never had that issue for that exit again. Garmin was a good unit.

 

What are you talking about? Rand McNally GPS are made in the USA far as I know. Maybe those other units are made in China.