Best GPS unit?

You won't be any more satisfied with the Garmin. These devices are toys, and shouldn't be relied upon when navigating a big rig over streets and highways.

 

Blindly following a GPS to an actual address probably isn't the best way to go anyway. You'd have better success using Google maps satellite / street views to find out exactly where the building and docks are located and then use your gps to route yourself to the nearest cross street to the docks or facilty entrance.

 

I have seen the Tell Rand's a lot. 90% of the time the driver will submit the information and never put an E-Mail address, then they complain that RM never responds. They get sometimes hundreds of Tell Rand's daily and if they broadcast a msg, (although I have never seen this message) and they let you know, how you take it is up to you. I don't see or read anything into that statement that says RM does not Care, simply they are overwhelmed.

This is your statement -

"I recently purchased a Rand McNally and I have to say, IT SUX! For some reason it won't accept about half the addresses I try to put into it. Says, invalid address or it wont even let me type in the address. They have a "predictive" input screen where it tries to guess what you're typing in and removes the characters it thinks you don't need. Very frustrating."

I did not notice anything about the Dock in the statement. What I read was that you were having issues with addresses. Nothing about RM does not care.

So, if you find address's not in the GPS, you don't want to get them added/corrected into the maps? You state you weren't trying to get anything corrected, so how can you fix something if the one person who sees the issue does not speak up? Let it slide so the next driver will not find the address and they also will complain?

Nobody can fix anything if they do not know about it. You have a voice here on TTR and I am the person who will listen. I have been here on this site for over 5 years helping drivers with issues with the TND or roads or restrictions, or whatever they have a beef with on the TND.

I cannot fix everything, but nothing will get fixed if you the driver does not speak up.

This goes for any Truck GPS, the manufacture does not know the issues unless you speak up and voice the issue. Not a blanket statement that it cannot find half the address's. State actual address's.

Mark

 

That may be because your Androids are using the same "Google Play" login credentials? I haven't tested that, but this is the first thing that comes to mind anyway.

 

google play AND copilot has the same credentials. i download and install. i log in, it restores my license.

pc also has the same log in credential. but it don't activate more then one. deactivating one to activate another makes only one useable at a time.

kind of sucks.

trying msft streets but it's too sophisticated with too many buttons that do nothing.

got pc navigator. it's free but too basic. but useable on more then one pc. no credentials required.

not much option for nagivation software choices on a pc or laptop.

 

If you have copilot on android or apple you can drag the route to match company provided directions or customer directions. Then you can follow it to the T because it's set way you were told to go in. I've done this for years and have never had trouble. I guess the gps is as only as smart as the person using it. They all have flaws but if you check the route before you go then why would you have an issue?

 

Yeah, I even though I started using it recently for me and setting up routes its the best I've had which means the most for me. It with my garmin and pocket TS book, I'm able to find most truck stops.

I still run my garmin next to copilot though. Feel safer if a road does not look right and have another suggestion.

 

Try the trucker path app. It has routing (paid part of app) and every poi you'll need like rest areas, truck stops, weigh stations etc.

 

every phone pretty much has some type of google navigation, or something similar. which uses internet. it's a pretty popular app. and does the job quite well. really no need for any other internet type of navigation. let alone paying for it.

if i'm not going from point a to point b. it's the only thing i use. with the mydat app first to find what i want in my area. then route me using google.

 

Yesterday I picked up a Samsung tablet. Today I started the download for Copilot for four wheelers just to check it out for ten bucks, a suggestion made by diesel boss. No Internet at home, so went to McDonald's for free Wi-Fi, but only 10 megs downloaded in the first ten minutes I was there so I bailed. I didn't do the math, but at that rate it would take maybe hours to download 1.75 gigabytes of maps. I'm on home time through Monday and hope to have something to road test when I get back out.