Opinions on GPS

Ha friggin ha.

 

Just making a point. The GPS doesn't drive the truck. The driver does. Therefore taking the truck where it shouldn't go is something only the driver can do. A trucker's atlas when used improperly, will take you where no truck should go just as quickly as any GPS when also used improperly. Both are tools and both are only as good as the data they've been given and the driver who is using them.

You cannot say don't use this GPS or that GPS. They are all just tools and they all need to be used properly. And they should never be allowed to drive the truck for you. If your GPS wants you to go down a road that you ain't 100% sure you should go down, and you go down it anyway, how is that the fault of the GPS? It isn't.

 

My point was simply that the Tom Tom is not designed for big trucks. It will tell you to go under 10 foot bridges, around hairpin turns, across 5,000 pound limited bridges, down "no truck" routes, shall I go on? Oh, and since you're being literal, Yes, I CAN say don't use this GPS or that GPS. Proof? I DID. The OP asked what GPS folks would recommend for truck routing, and I recommended one, as well as recommending one to stay away from. Why is that a problem?

 

Ok fair enough. But any automotive GPS will do that. The Tom Tom is not at all unique in that respect. So saying that you shouldn't use a Tom Tom is valid, but saying you shouldn't use an automotive GPS might have been more informative for the person asking the question.

Then again, I do local driving so I use a regular standard Garmin GPS and it works great for my needs because I spend 90% of my day off of truck routes no matter what I use. And based on my experience in the truck with it, I would be perfectly comfortable using any automotive GPS in the truck if I were OTR, but that's me and I understand what GPS will and will not do so I understand when I should and should not trust it.

So IMO, a better answer is to say that OTR drivers ought to stick with one of the few units designed for use in a truck and use it only as a secondary supplement to their atlas if they're unsure about the limitations and quirks of GPS. And drivers who are comfortable with the limits and quirks of GPS and are also comfortable navigating on their own and keeping themselves off of low weight bridges and such, will probably be ok with any regular old automotive unit.

 

The reason I mentioned the Tom Tom specifically is because another poster recommended it. Okay, so to clarify: any ordinary GPS is a BAD idea. The Cobra 7700, Garmin 465T, and PC Miler X50 series appear to be the most popular GPS systems that offer truck specific routing. I personally recommended the PC Miler 450 because it offers the most accurate Canadian routing, and I run about 50/50 between Canada and the US.

 

two nights ago I gave another driver turn by turn directions off the interstate to my location to swap loads. Only 3 turns, one of which was "go all the way up the hill, turn right at the big neon "C" which is the Cummins diesel plant.
He wanted to know my GPS location. I gave it to him. He ended up 4 miles away in a different industrial park having gone HALF WAY up the hill and turning right, traveling 2 miles and turning on Rte 210 instead of 3/4 mile to make a turn on 38th street.
I'll never use GPS when I have my aircard and access to google maps.

 

A GPS can be handy but as stated somewhere above, do not follow the directions into somewhere you shouldn't. Cause they will be wrong. I suggest using a atlas for getting from town to town. Maybe I'm just old school grumpy.

 

weird I just sit mine to auto pilot and i go get in the bunk. An alarm goes off about 5 miles before I get to my destination. Doesn't every GPS have this feature?

 

Every gps recommendation thread turns into a "don't rely on gps" thread. Every one.

Also, instead of just complaining, Rand McNally TND-700 is what you want.

 

Actually, any 'regular' tom tom will parallel park for you too - kinda like the new Acuras

just saying...