GPS units

My company uses Teletracs. Provides gps tracking and directions. She usually does a good job but she never wants to take the short route to the northwest to and from El Paso. Doesn't give me the route until I'm either south of Spanish Fork or north of Albuquerque, lmao.

 

The Rand McNally has a much better list of truck stops/services, CoPilot has bridge clearances visible on the map, and Garmin has the eye/ear candy...

 

First thing you need to decide is what size screen he wants. If he wants a netbook or tablet, I *think* Copilot is the only option?

 

Electronic Connection section

 

Our company uses PC Miler which we like but we also bought the Rand McNally and a Garmin. All of them are good but the best one is the Rand McNally Atlas and.......common sense.

 

Is PC miler a GPS? I thought that was mapping only?

 

It's integrated into our companies E-Log machine. Don't think they make a GPS unit anymore.

 

I also ran Microsoft streets & trips for abit before I got a smart phone.

It has some good info on there with the extra trucking software. You could just run that thru your laptop.

Prob the cheapest option mentioned than just using your phone. Forgot about using that.
Can drag and drop...save previous routes...all that fun stuff.

Like 60$ total but the GPS is a write off with depreciation each year so who really cares about a couple hundred bucks for somin you are going to use mostly everyday.

 

I have had 2 versions of the 5" Rand so far. The first was so buggy the first year that it was almost unusable. But they worked it out over time and really have a good database of roads now that the others do not have the same access too.
Yes, they all started with the same information. But the "tell rand" feature has allowed them to get allot of info on smaller state and county roads that we need to use when getting into shippers and receivers. This data is not in the normal databases that garman and others are using.

It works fairly well, once I get to the delivery area I prefer my company's directions. Or at times I will look at the map view on the GPS to get an idea of how it has me going in. It tries to get you off at the first exit that will work most of the time, even if it is not really the best option. I always look at the route on my map first though. I like to know all the options for the overall route. The GPS is more if a reminder, and it gives me a good running time, so I know how I am doing time wise on the run.
Nothing will ever totally replace a good map.

Oh, and I like some others really like to use google earth/ maps when I can. It allows you to get a good look of the entrance to a facility. So you can see what road the actual truck entrance is on. This can really help at times. Also helps if doing retail delivery's. Since you do not have to guess where the dock are located, or what direction you need to go behind the building.