The randy tablets

Pfft! That is why you are supposed to go get a media player and use that for the digital music. After all those mini music players are dirt cheap.
$6 at Walmart. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Eclipse-Fit-Clip-4GB-MP3-Player-Purple-Teal/40694096

 

I went an alternate route. I had a google nexus tablet with GPS capability and rather than pay 500 bucks for the rand tablet I bought a Tom Tom commercial vehicle navigation app for only 90 bucks on google market. Works much more reliably and with my e-log app (free app- DOT compliant) my tablet is pretty much a Swiss army trucker tool.


nav app is called map factor on google play market. Free to download standard maps but do pay a one time90 dollar fee for truck maps. Can set custom truck parameters like height weight etc. Stores them on your device so it can be used offline (navigates with only location services turned on)

 

I'm confused. Are you using Tom Tom for the trucking maps or this map factor bit... either sounds a bit spooky.
Now any gps / mapping stamped by Google, I'm in...

 

What's the elog app?

 

The app itself is called map factor. When you initially install it it will ask from which source do you want to download your maps. The free maps are provided by a site called openstreetmap. The paid version (which is the one tailored for commercial vehicles) has maps and addresses which are provided by Tom Tom. Tom Tom provides it's own higher detail maps with bridge alerts, height/length/weight restrictions. And advanced lane notification.

 

The elog app is called keep truckin. For both android and apple products. Dot compliant and (don't tell the cops) you can edit your duty entries after you've logged them. Also has daily inspection forms. Automatically keeps track of your 11/14/8 hour break and weekly recap as you go. Also logs your 34 hour reset automatically when you rest for a good long while. There's been a couple times I've had to make some "corrections" after being held up at a shipper. And when your dispatch needs them, simply email your logs to them.

 

Thanks for the info. While looking at the app I see that it is not a DOT compliant ELD, just another of many computerized logging applications that requires logs to be able to be printed upon demand. Still they're great apps to use. It's very confusing when they use the term "elog", it has become as common as "assault rifle" and just as often used erroneously. There is a huge difference between a DOT compliant ELD and any computerized logging program. The programs have the upper hand most of the time because of the ability to edit, while showing any errors that occur and giving you the opportunity to correct them. I see the people that wrote the program also plan to offer a compliant ELD device in the future. Soon enough we'll all be using those ...

 

I have not read the entire thread but about a month ago I got the tablet. I had the 520 before and moved it to my other truck. As for the tablet, the routing sucks, granted it is pretty good at keeping you on legal routes but often, even on fastest route will route you a long way around. Also is prone to routing you down the busiest streets in town. Instead of just looking for legal routes it would be nice to have TRUCK PRACTICAL routes. The latest fubar was while going from Memphis to Chicago wanted me to stay on 55 to St. Louis instead of taking 57. When I got off on 57 it did its recalculation and was approx 45 min less time and 30-40 miles shorter. Almost all of the apps that are advertised are the free version and to do much good you need to do in app purchases. My other gripe is if I say I am empty when prompted that only deals with how the miles are recorded. Seems it would be simple enough for it to then route me on lower weight roads. But it doesn't.

 

Empty does route you routes that have a lower legal limit. Do you have an example?

Fastest/Prefer takes me from Memphis/Chicago on I-55 for 66 miles and then I-57 for 380 miles.

Apps no matter for what device have free versions and paid versions. I use a lot of free versions from the Play Store with no issues.

Thanks,
Mark

 

Ms 612/ Natchez rd.

cant tell you why mine wanted me to go to St. Louis.


today leaving Houston going to Jefferson La, wanted to compare routes, tablets fastest preferred I10 to 167 -90 to 48. On the comparison would not split it from Lafayette to continue on 10-310-90 -48 which by Google maps is almost a half our quicker. It would only compare taking me up to 90 in Texas then back down to 10 in Baton Rouge then on to 10 - 310 - 90 -48. Also you have to get off of 90 in Morgan City and go through town due to a sinking bridge. They have been routing trucks like that for a couple of years now.
And just like the 520 cannot for the life of me figure out why in the he double hockey sticks it would ever send someone up Airport Blvd in Mobile Al when going nw. Red lights every couple of hundred yards. I know it does more cities like this also, I live close to Mobile and it just never ceases to amaze me. Don't think you can find a more congested street in Mobile.