Do local day cab companies have gps?

Local drivers do not necessarily run routes.they are doing picks and drop that can cover quite a large diverse area. I prefer map books personally for metro areas, but I can see the advantage of a good GPS. There are several places I know of that you will come upon intersection where they are marked no trucks in 3 out 4 directions and no 40acre field in site.

 

I guess I'm kinda biased on this...after running OTR, then going local with regular routes, inside a 200 mile radius, I can't see a need for GPS, but I suppose there are reasons for it. But to me, there's something that just seems weird seeing a daycab with one of those TV screen GPS units on the dashboard

 

I work for a 'local day cab company', and they have a GPS app installed in the Qualcomm. I don't use it; I just carry my own GPS with me (we slip-seat).

 

when in doubt,i make a phone call and use an atlas.i don't have/never used a gps,not even on my phone,and i've always made it everywhere i intended to go and some places i had no intentions of going.never say never in trucking.

well i never went to driving school and from what i read,you are no longer in it.I also read that some trainers train after having driven for just 1 year and since they can't manuver around w/o a gps,why would the trainee be able to? one can't teach what one doesn't know so it comes as no surprise that many new drivers are lost w/o a gps.are you lost w/o one? i'll assume not and give you newer guys the benefit of the doubt.i did not point fingers.i did broad brush however.

I believe that you'll be alright whether you use a gps or not.the main thing is don't panic.drivers made it to their destinations long before gps was even an acronym.CB radios have been known to assist a driver as well.

did your trainer not show you how to use a CB or call the shipper or consignee? either/or replaces a gps every time in my experience which is all that i can post regarding.the person assigning you your pick ups and deliveries probably can tell you how to get there(destination) as well.

as odd as this may read,it just dawned on me that you don't need no stinking gps-

 

I beg to differ. Not everyone can read a map.

 

Google maps is a good tool also, you can zoom in and see where docks are located, where the entrance road is located, etc. Even though here lately they are leaving the exit numbers off the directions, you have to scroll in to see what it is on the map now; guess they want to get everyone on the new map they are trying to put out.


Having your own GPS I think is better than relying on one built into the truck. You can save favorites to the address book, it will also have built in places like truckstops, rest areas and Walmart.

 

Having basically been local for 20+ years in the Portland area I still find the need to get out my Thomas Guide every once in a while and have no problem admitting it. Hope when they send me back for training they learn me right this time. Although I don't have a GPS (got one in the boat) I would have no problem using it if I had one.

 

I got my first GPS when I first started driving. It was a Nuvi 750. The reason I loved it was that it had an MP3 player and I could use it to listen to the music or books. The problem was that I drove for Keystone Automotive Operations and we left from their Kansas City, KS warehouse and drove to Houston, TX which was a cross dock. Never any place else. So my co drivers would make fun of me. I am a sensitive guy. I didn't like them teasing me.....

Then one foggy Christmas Eve, Santa came to say, Wooly with your Garmin so Bright won't you guide my sleigh tonight.

The good thing about having a portable GPS is that if you run into traffic, you hit the detour button and you can get around it just fine. Now my portable is my third one. I passed on the Nuvi to my daughter and my son has my 465 truck model. My new GPS is a Garmin 760 LMT. Large screen and lots of truck features. HOS and fuel tax information. It cost about 400 still. If you read maps, they have to be updated. Lifetime map updates on the Garmin come with it.

I was local with the 465 and it never steered me wrong. That was in Kansas City area not New York. We have lots of low bridges here in Kansas City and the Garmins keep you from going there. I think it comes down to how much is your piece of mind worth. The features on the 760 are really an improvement. School zones pop an alarm. There is a speed trap app you can add on. It will only get better in the future.