GPS Units in Trucks

I haven't heard of any companies providing them. Since there doesn't seem to be a reliable one yet for truck routing I would be surprised if any do.

 

BYOGps

 

Remember that your average store bought unit is not programed for truck routes so buy a good motor carriers atlas and learn to read it, learn to read the front of the atlas for truck restrictions and low bridges and use the gps along with the atlas.

I ran another drivers truck for a day that had a gps in it. Hadnt used one so i started putting in the address' for the pickups that i had for the day, luckily i knew what the truck routes were in the little towns i was picking up in and what roads to run in between becasue that darn box tried to get me to go through cornfields and down narrow residential streets.

 

Yep, GPS is great for knowing where you are, great for knowing how far you have to go and figuring out when you will get there as well as great for knowing what street is coming up. It's not for planning a route though.

 

Garmin does make a GPS unit for trucks and I have mostly good things about it. Only bad thing it runs about $500. Its also a good thing to know how and do a trip plan with a atlas. Nowadays a lot of the companies that use Qualcomm will give you a routing with your fuel stops.

 

Sure you can go with a GPS unit...and wind up like that ABF driver who wedged his 13'6" truck under a 12' tunnel yesterday (video on CNN website).

Nothing beats good eyesight, hearing and mapreading/trip planning skills...yet.

 

MACK, Volvo, and some of the other companies are built-in stereo/nav systems. When we ordered my truck last year, Mack gave us 4 stereo options: delete, basic am/fm/cassette, am/fm/CD/MP3, or Co-pilot. Co-pilot features: AM/FM/Sat Radio/GPS/MP3 and other functions. It was a $3,000 option, the boss said no. You can buy updated maps for it.

I use a Garmin that was designed for cars, but is supplements my Motor Carrier Atlas and my knowledge of the areas I travel. I know someone who is using th Garmin unit that is designed for trucking, supposedly it works excellent and has a lot of xtra features that are trucking specific.

 

i remember when i was about 5, we were on the parkway and there was a semi that went under a bridge that was lower than his trailer, and it took the whole roof off!

how do you know what roads have low bridges like that?