Is a GPS a good investment?

Why not run delorme or Microsoft streets and trips on your laptop. Cost less than $50 and you can set the entire route like you want.

 

I use Google Maps as well, but the one thing it doesn't do is custom routing. It gives you a choice of up to 3, but if you want to route thru (or around) a city, it doesn't allow via points like a gps. But what I do like about it is, unlike a gps, Google Maps allows you to pick the starting and ending points if it's a different point than your current location.

I have had truck and car GPSs. I use it, but don't depend on it. But use it as a tool. Just research a unit, not all of them have all the features needed. Some don't have custom routes, or the ability for multiple stops.

I have a 2557 car unit. It has custom routing, even offers multi-route selection, traffic, and construction warning. Plus the latest update changes the color of the lanes depending on traffic speed(like Google Maps)

 

GPS is just another tool to use. Same as your Atlas and cel phone.

I dont refer to any of them as an investment. Just something to have when I have need for it.

Hurst

 

The #1 reason I have a truck GPS is to find somewhere to stop when I am in an unfamiliar location. Th RM has extensive lists of truck stops, rest areas, walmarts, weigh stations, and so on.

 

I like this

 

Or MyDAT Trucker app.

 

I use google maps (on a computer) all the time, and you can drag routes to where you want, add as many via-points as you want, etc. Very handy for multiple stop trips b

 

I use rand McNally GPS. It's good but not great common sense needs to come in. It routes my down down Newark, since its shorter. Or over the George Washington bridge in rush hour instead on tappen zee. Plus toll difference between two.

 

I'm partial to Google Maps satellite view myself. I drive a car carrier and sometimes I have the top deck loaded. This means I have one more thing to worry about - namely, trees with branches over the roadway. Taking the wrong, "scenic", tree-lined route can cause several thousands of dollars worth of damage to my load (even if it is a truck route). I also use satellite view to look at my drop and pickup locations: a lot of car dealerships are located in the worst possible places for a semi trying to load/unload, and it makes you wonder how these guys ever expected to get their inventory shipped when they designed these places. Picking up from private residences can be even worse, because the customers will either have no idea (or forget) that you're driving a Freightliner instead of a Toyota; or they'll forget that they live in an area or neighborhood surrounded by restricted or "truck-dangerous" routes. Getting that bird's-eye view of the facility or house helps me formulate a strategy on how to approach the place to give me the best possible positioning. Sometimes getting that positioning even makes me have to change up my route at the last couple of miles from what GPS tells me.

 

I'll comment on the post about NYC. Interestingly enough, I've found that my Rand 720 and 730 became somewhat useless in the metro area, including Jersey City. They seem to get 'overwhelmed' and then suggest horrible routes. As another poster mentioned, I often will use the GPS as a head's up for upcoming streets. Some streets are not clearly marked, especially during construction.

GPS is great, but I prefer to have my route pre-planned with back up routes. A company route guide, Google Maps and the RM Atlas are my first tools. GPS is a nice turn-by-turn guide. As far as relying on the GPS as a guide to replace proper trip planning - that'll get you in trouble. To me, it's more of an expensive way to see upcoming streets that aren't clearly marked.