GPS that lets you program route

Sure. Here are my thoughts on this subject: forcing a specific route, like oversize permit routes, into a GPS.

pre-note 1: If you are using a truck-specific GPS, you will often need to take it out of truck mode because permit routes often will take road segments that are NOT typical truck logical routes necessarily. You literally have to put it in car mode sometimes. But that is OK if you have a permit dictating the turn-by-turn route.

pre-note 2: this process always involves forcing a route using "waypoints." Depending on the GPS maker, these can be done by clicking spots on the maps, entering addresses, entering road names, or "dragging" the route line.

pre-note 3: I could have demonstrated this process on a hand-held type of GPS, (Rand, Garmin, TomTom, etc) but I have a low pain threshold today and did not feel like doing it on a little screen. I believe in lowering pain where possible, so on this subject I feel that you will also find it easier on a tablet, or laptop. But it CAN be done on a smaller GPS.

Method 1: (best in my opinion) - use CoPilot Truck for Windows ver 9B. The reason is because it does not require any form of internet connection or for plugging in and transferring to a smaller GPS. Plus CPTruck also acts as a normal truck route GPS when you are doing a regular "non-permit" route. Plus it is on a nice big screen to use while navigating like a laptop or Windows tablet (like the Surface Pro.) It also comes in Android and iOS versions, only they do not allow the drag-route option on those at last check.

I made a video example:



Alternate option one: Rand McNally has a cool free trip planner at Rand McNally - TripMaker
I was able to make the same route as in the video with 4 waypoints using "drag and drop." You can send those route to a Rand GPS or Tablet. This method does involve plugging the GPS into something with USB (like a laptop or USB-enabled tablet) and it requires internet to make the route.

Alternate option two: Garmin has a free downloadable maker called Basecamp (BaseCamp™ | Garmin | United States) - This one also requires that you create on a Windows or Mac and then send the route to the GPS via USB wire or SD card (on supported models.) This one is more complex and involves some learning curve. Youtube videos are your friend.

Alternate option three. You can use Google My Maps (Sign in - Google Accounts) to create the route with the same waypoints. You can search YouTube for videos from folks showing how to put those on to a Garmin or other GPS that take KML files. This is pretty complicated. Depends on how much patience you have to play with it.

Alternate option four: there is a program called "Maptitude" which is basically a replacement for Microsoft Streets and trips. It has all of the features and more than MS Streets. But it is quite spendy. Google it for their site.

Heh. See what happens when I don't post for a while? Sorry so long, but it is a complicated question with no known program or GPS that is specifically designed for permit route introduction easily.
Hope this helps a bit anyway. (Don from DieselBoss)

 

I"d be interested in know what would happen if one were to just simply change the settings on their gps. To match their load requirements. Course, you'd still need to know about construction along the route.

I use copilot. One trip i occasionally hauled heavy. Was oregon. Normal weight it would route me up the 84. Heavy it would route me down the 20. 100k + pounds.

 

Well, for a permit, that would be unreliable. Permits do strange things dictated by a lot of factors including even the time of day. For example, in Nebraska oversize permit hauling is even restricted on certain roads if the Cornhuskers are playing football on that day.

One dirty secret of the truck-specific GPS makers is that most of the attribute data is based on government STAA designated roads. The "secret sauce" is in their own proprietary overlays, like Gamin, ALK, and Rand do have. So they are actually "maxing out" at 13'6" and 80,000 pounds in the base maps. Anything in your profile setting over those numbers still defaults back to 13'6" and 80,000 pounds in most cases! In fact, if you put larger numbers in CoPilot it will warn you that those are permit numbers and are not currently supported. Other makers may, or may not, give you the same warning, but I guarantee that none are particularly smart at over-dimensional.

And hence the need for "force-feeding" turn-by-turn into a GPS AHEAD OF TIME for specific permit loads. There is no way that a GPS maker could accurately predict a permit route.

This is why MS Streets and Trip was SO popular with our oversize haulers for many, many years. MS Streets made it pretty easy to force in a route and save it. Better than CoPilot, and way better than the dash units.

Final note in case any reps from a GPS or GIS company are reading: if YOU DID make a specific "over-dimensional GPS" or even a mode in your current GPS, you could charge a lot more money for it. Such a GPS would require 4 things that would justify the cost: a SERIOUS Hazmat overlay, EXACT bridge heights and WEIGHT limits (not just STAA designated routes,) a permit-friendly GUI such that the user could enter step by step of a permit easily, and an IMPORT method, like from an online planning site or even a CSV or KML file with coordinates in it. Your pilot car companies and oversize haulers would pay $1999 for such an animal if it worked. I know over-size special load haulers who make that in 24 hours right now.

 

If you have a Garmin device, you should download their free "Base Camp" software. Play around with it and see. It may do what you're seeking to do.

It wants to use the detailed road maps on your connected device, otherwise it will use a very limited detail map. Or you can buy and download detailed maps to your desktop.

Regardless, I think you can test to see if it will work without having a Garmin device now that I think about it. (Create a custom route and save in a gps device friendly format ready for upload)

Rand McNally may have something comparable.

 

Good question. My one experience trying that method, even trying to add waypoints ("via") was a frustrating disaster. That's when I dropped dimensions to normal truck AND dropped weight to 12000 lbs. THEN the route with waypoints was perfect.

I am going to watch the video @Dieselboss posted and study his posts on this thread. Programming a route in the Rand McNally is tedious. I allow at least an hour to study the permits and provisions and program the route. I have also used Google Maps for routing when I drive another company's truck and don't have my Rand McNally with me.

 

I don't even do 95 through NY anymore. I run across 287 and down 17 back to the turnpike in NJ. Plus there are stops in Mahwah. I go up to CT at least a couple times a week out of NJ. Plus the toll is as cheap as $16 to get across the Hudson if you time it right.

But yeah, The Deegan and Bruckner is never a good idea.

 

Can still drag route, is hidden but it's still there

 

Hidden?

That's a drag.

 

I've got a broker that deals with a customer who sells those big tires for the mining trucks they use in Africa. They book cargo planes and each time its always out of JFK. Big 747-40 or the Russian Antov 124.

So as much as I would like to avoid that whole mess,.. he calls me direct and lets me know when he needs me to pick up at the Good Year plant. It pays good enough to dead head 200 - 400 mi to be there to load and then to deal with all the BS that Jamaica Ny has to offer.

I've always been a can do guy. While others avoid the whole area,.. just means more for me.

Hurst

 

bah dun tish!