Rand McNally intelliRoute TND 500

Frosty, I appreciate what you have to say and that's cool that you're tomtom works for you. I am impressed with this TND700. Do I wish it was cheaper? Of course I do... but believe me when you are going into an unfamiliar area, it is great to have. Also just my opinion but I must respectfully disagree with you that any gps will work... some are designed for cars only and will not take into account road restrictions, low bridges or anything like that. My sprint phone has gps, but it's for a car. It would have no idea that I'm in a semi. I would trust Rand McNally to make a true truck gps. After all, they make the motor carrier's road atlas. Not putting your tomtom down at all, everyone has their own preferences.

 

Truck routes versus Non-truck routes. Their is a reason they are non-truck routes. Could be due to area, road depth just to name a few. If you are caught on a Non-truck route you could be subject to fines.

Truck routes are roads that have a STAA rating. Now you will have to make stops along non-STAA roads, but usually these have signage showing "local deliveries allowed".

False exits - usually a error in the mapping database, remember all the data is inputted via a human.

Mapping data has a lot more truck attributes than just a few more tweaks in it. You have to think about type of cargo, height, weight, length just to name a few.

Building the routers in the software to take care of truck attributes is highly detailed. Truck mapping data costs a lot more from the mapping companies than normal car data. A lot more coding is required to take into account the above. This is where the cost factors come into play.

If you are fine with your TOM-TOM then more power to you. Just remember states like NY will soon make this not possible.

Many drivers drove for decades without an GPS, relying on knowledge. Now a GPS allows you to make decsions for your trips and routing a lot faster plus giving you more information at your fingertips.

With the older drivers retiring and many new younger drivers replacing the 1st seat, the knowledge is going away. Use what Navigation device you feel comfortable with, but always think of it as a tool and not to rely just on it. Use your MCRA and most importantly - your brain.

Thanks,
Mark

 

That is a feature that RM is still thinking about. Most traffic reports are put out by Clear Channel and unless the broadcast is updated constantly then you will still get false data.

I have used GPS with traffic and have found many times the accident showing ahead was never there.

Clear Channel is only in certain cities and may not be where you need it.

Thanks,
Mark

 

Thanks Mark. I see your point very well about having a traffic feature. I was curious about your early statement about a tom tom in New York would soon not be possible? Could you please elaborate? Is New York debating on making gps units illegal or something?

 

See the article here at TheTruckersReport: http://www.thetruckersreport.com/new-york-gps-proposal-safety-or-revenue/

 

Thanks Diesel... I wasn't aware of what was going on in New York

 

I don't know what the latest news is on it (since that came out a little while back) but I know that NY actually had caused it to be brought up in several states lately. Maybe Obama will appoint a GPS czar to figure it all out. Regardless, the drivers on this forum don't let anything get past them, so stay tuned...

 

I'm puttering along with my old Garmin 330cs. It is pretty darn good at saying when I'll get some where.

Do I trust it impliccitly? No WAY! I ALWAYS check out the company supplied route in the bible (Truckers Atlas).

I wish she'd told me the OK toll road does NOT take EZ-Pass! I had no cash and had to hit a Flying J in Tulsa for cash.

 

As per the folks at ALK and TransPlant (the makers of the PC*Miler Nav hardware) at last weeks meetings, PC*Miler is being looked at by NY DOT as one of the recommended gps systems for commercial vehicles. NY is very serious about this issue of trucks striking low bridges. The NY legislature is seriously considering the above mentioned law.

It'll be interesting to see how NY handles this issue ... and if it does which gps system will be the first recommended by the NY DOT.

 

That is interesting.. I still say Rand's TND500 and 700 would be the best simply because they already have the motor carrier's atlas. I know I'm being a little one sided but just my opinion. Actually I think Rand and PcMiler would be best... it's the two software programs a lot of trucking companies use for their routing software