Drivers, why are we using GPS units?

I use a regular Garmin Nuvi with zero trucking software on it...cost about $139.00. Just cross reference with my trusty atlas, and perhaps a phone call or two. But NEVER once have I relied solely on the GPS.....and never would I pay $300.00 or more for a GPS unit.

Other than that...I know what roads/bridges/under-passes I can and can not be on all across the country just from 20 years of running them.

 

I didn't spend 100's for my gps. only one fifty. and the darn thing works.

I don't think you'll find one nagging thread about it

it's not a Garmin or rand. or the paper kind. I wouldn't trade it for anything else. Cuz nothing else can compare. input address and drive. can't get any easier then that.

 

I think people buy em for several reasons:

1. They are lazy.
2. They can't read a map.
3. It provides ease of mind for some people that are paranoid about missing turns n stuff.
4. Its easy.

I have a plain old regular Garmin (non-trucking GPS), and thus far, it has not betrayed me. I just pay attention for truck routes and stuff, cross check GPS route with my actual atlas, and I get around pretty good.

I personally like it because a lot of my loads are time sensitive and I'll have the company man or tech on a rig calling me wanting to know an ETA. I'll take into account where I am haded (big cities, traffic lights, etc.) and shoot 15 minutes higher than what the GPS says for arrival time and never bee late.

 

I like mine for the ETA, and knowing where and when I have to turn to get to a new customer, I have the big laminated Rand Mcnalley, but it doesn't tell me where "Whatever" street is, a gps will show it on the screen. and if I miss that turn, I could really be screwed.

I used my Pilot points to buy the Garmin 560, I still have to switch it to car mode when running I 80 in Nebraska

 

Lazy? Because some choose to use modern tools for their work? I think what we have here is a case of technophobic disfunction.

Technophobia is the fear or dislike of advanced technology or complex devices, especially computers. Although there are numerous interpretations of technophobia, they seem to become more complex as technology continues to evolve. The term is generally used in the sense of an irrational fear.

the cost is negligible considering I use my Garmin daily. Although I never rely on it
without using a Google map and directions.

 

I have many a time relied on my atlas, company and shipper and receiver routing and ignored certain routes my GPS told me to go. Like this one place in Terre Haute. The GPS wanted me to go on Exit 11 and turn down or pretty close to a low bridge. I am not sure if my GPS would take me that way, but I used my atlas to route myself around and I went down Exit 7 and got there safe and sound. I use to as a tool that can help. I use a Garmin Nuvi and it tells me if there is any traffic or construction on my route and lets me know about when I will arrive at my destination.

 

I agree.. way too much money for underpowered processor and low memory. They usually are more reasonable being run in car mode so you don't have a bunch of bogus restrictions bungling up the routing.

I use the TND most of the time, it's ETA is accurate and it's nice to know what TS down the road has laundry, showers, dropbox or a 24hr resturant.

 

We all know the answer to that.Anything to shave off reading,and doing leg work.
Same reason folk cut corners everywhere else in trucking.
I don't have a gps anymore.I use the Force,and feel my way to each stop..
Naahh..I go to the same places,so I got that covered,but the map book when in doubt.
The eta on gps is handy,but I like to guess at it,and see how close I can get.

 

Eh, not so much.

What I was getting at is that it is so danged easy it feels lazy. Just punch it in and go and hope that it 100% takes down the right route. Lazy as is not cross checking it with a secondary source. You check your routes, don't you? Or are you lazy and just enter the address hope it is right?

Edit:

Furthermore, what happens when the next generation gets in a groove to where all that they use is a GPS? If they are so used to it, they may get lazy and not purchase a physical atlas. Idk