GPS, Atlas, map software??

I'm lazy, more often than not I plug my route into my rand mcnally 520 and take off. Haven't had a huge problem after 4 months with it, just tossing a little common sense in. 2 things you gotta do. If you're in a tight area, make sure it's getting you onto a truck route ASAP without playing around (cutting through neighborhoods to save you a quarter mile or something), and seeing that it doesn't take you off at the wrong exit in your destination city to go through more local streets than necessary. I get local directions from my company that I use for comparison, but they're often junk, but they usually let me know what exit is best to get off at at least.

Even if you don't like GPS planning your trip for you, I think you're hurting yourself not having one. They help you figure out truck stops, rest areas and wal marts along the way, track your distance to your next turn/end of trip, wake you up with a voice prompt 2 miles before your exit. GPS is a tool. Whether it's the tool you use for trip planning is up to you, but you'd be silly not to have it in your tool kit.

 

Yes. My truck gps tells me, at a glance, what mile marker I'm at, rest stops I'm coming up on, walmarts, truck stops, my speed and the current speed limit, current time for yard local and destination. ..and the list goes on.

 

Ok, you GPS users, here's the real question. How is your GPS view set up?

North up, Track up, or 3-D perspective.

Secondly, when you are nowhere near a turn or destination, what is your zoom level? I never really understood why people have it at street level on the highway.

 

My new trucker tablet gps automatically zooms out on the highway then zooms in when getting close to the destination. Also if there are traffic cams out there i can view the traffic cams on the same tablet. nice feature.

 

North up, .6 mile view. When I get within 2 miles from a turn, it switches to 3d

 

Air start, no lights, but you'll make it after that pulse! just dodge the empty four wheeled obstructions!

 

If I am going someplace new then it is in the proper map orientation, North UP!

Otherwise 3D view is kind of cool.

If I am looking for a turn it will be zoomed out. But if it is just logging miles then I zoom to street level and it looks like I am really movin' down the road!

My Rand will show in one area, one of three options.
Town I am in
Road I am on
Upcoming intersecting street

Mikeeee