Can I use my car GPS for trucking?

I would think it reasonably safe to say that most drivers who post here already have a laptop in their truck. In my original post, I said: "...but for about $100 one can have an extremely effective navigation tool while making use of the hardware that most here already have."

As to the second part of your post, I am using the 2010 MS Streets and Trips, so I can't comment on the 2011 version. But it's not relevant as the Truck Stops Plus program is simply a template that overlays the MS Streets & Trips program and can fairly easily map out restricted routes as well as low clearances. "With the Truck Stops Plus 2011 Template, you will also be able to relegate your Motor Carrier Road Atlas to backup status, because you will be able to easily check for restricted routes and low clearances right from the convenience of your laptop screen without an Internet connection, making it not only much easier but many times faster as well." ( qoute from vendor's web site.)

A factor that makes this setup so useful is that it is fully functional without requiring an internet connection (except for the initial download of the programs). I would hope that any driver considering spending $300 to $500 for a stand alone GPS would take some time to investigate the links I posted previously. For those who already have a laptop in their truck, it just isn't necessary to spend the additional hundreds of dollars to duplicate the same hardware you already have. Adding useful software to your existing hardware can produce a trucking specific GPS comparable to the expensive units discussed here, and in many ways even better, for alot less money.

 

Couldn't agree more.

Another option is to use the CoPilot Truck 8 with truck routing as well.

I, like you, am a big fan of using a mounted laptop for everything - GPS, logbook, internet, than I am of just a stand-alone GPS which does not give you the big screen or the other abilities on a single device. Luckily, both methods are available for the drivers to decide which is best for them.

Forum threads are an evolving discussion, an many users will often read only the latest page of posts in a thread. SO in that spirit, thanks for taking the time in to restate your thoughts.

 

Latest update.

1. I have been taking the same route to get to Jubitz in Portland since 1970-something. The Rand freaks out, gives me an error message and won't navigate me coming or going.

2. Sitting at the Airport Cafe in Willows CA, maybe 200 yards from I-5 it wants to send me out on a tour of the countryside instead of letting me take the on-ramp in front of me. It has done a similar thing leaving the TA in Corning.

3. Taking CA 20 west from I-5 to get to Healdsburg CA it wanted to route me over 53 & 29 instead of taking 20 to 101. That's not a legal route if you are over 65'. It is a stupid route for a tractor-semi at almost any length.

I really don't have time to catalog all the things the Rand does wrong. I am taking it out of the truck & writing Rand a letter asking for a refund.

It's not a GPS, it's a POS.

 

This should be in the support thread. Have you contacted me on these routes?

Thanks,
Mark

 

i have one for you... please tell me WHY the 710 CAN"T route me from san antonio, tx. to 665 Metts dr. lebanon, ky.......?

also WHY does it think that KY has toll roads.....? ky opened all the OLD toll roads over 6 years ago....!

why does it route me one way from san antonio to huntsvill, al. but not the same way back and both are longer than the way i go and i go all freeway both ways....

does the person that wrote the base routing software understand that a VIA is not a STOP, to get the route to go the way i want "or need" i may need to add up to 5-8 via's but the 710 treats each via as a stop so as i'm going down the freeway i have to hit next STOP and loaded it also treats each via as a stop in that it shows (upper right corner) milage and arrival time to the next via NOT the milage and arrival to my next STOP...?

 

I am moving this over to the support thread.

Thanks,
Mark