Rand McNally intelliRoute TND 500

forwarded this info to RM... but GATS was in Aug...and this is in the works for you that would prefer a different twist on IFTA tracking...

 

Tried to be open minded, but, the unit does not perform. Ran from PA to CT to NY to Long Island and to southern PA. The number of truck routes missing is unbelievable.

Most connectors are unlisted, ramps, access roads, streets and on.... It has many more missing than in it. Cross Bronx Expressway was saying not a route & tried to send me to lower level of GWB . Tried to be open about some of it. It has tried to reroute from truck route to truck impassable streets. Certainly does not seem to have been used in the North East. Cities and Urban is where we need help the most. Appears to take truck lane restrictions to mean no truck route.

It has given directions to turn then immediately say not a truck route, so can not be trusted for routing. The destination entry was difficult again because of no automatic over ride or zip code entry. 3 different Hanover PA, 2 there 1 missing, and how to differentiate the other 2?????

The GPS worked great, just none of the other features area useable: no logs, no IRP daily, improper IFTA reporting, horrid truck routing, no computer interface, and difficult to plan trips on.

If it would do just the routing and trip planning effectively. Initially I thought it was a bargain. Not now unfortunately.

 

I am nearing the end of my review (the features and usability phase) of the unit now (not including road tests yet.) I have not compiled my full report as yet, but will comment on the "miles by state logging" since that is the topic of the last few posts.

The unit will currently keep a log of every mile that you drive in a particular state (as log as it is turned on of course.) The screen report will allow you to choose the "year" and then it displays your state mileage report by month. (So, for example, "2009" is at the top of the screen and then under that it says "October" and then under that "Oregon - 123 mi / Idaho - 221 mi / Washington - 84 mi, etc.)

This is a great start and no other competing unit does this (yet) but it needs a couple of tweaks to make it useful in "practical" use as follows (in my opinion):

1. Create a button called "Quarter" which would allow you see your state mileage for the quarter (which is of course how IFTA is paid.)

2. Create a couple of "reset" buttons. One so that you could reset the current "temporary" log (i.e. whatever I drove by state today, or this week, this month, whatever. This would be the exact screen code that is already in the unit with the addition of a reset.) Don't let this button reset the "master" log. Have a second screen for the master log which is where I can choose to see all of the months (like it does now) or choose a "quarter" (i.e. Q1, 2009 / Q2, 2009 / etc.) Then include the second "reset" button which would set the "master" log back to zero.

3. Include a button in the TND Dock screen to "Output Mileage Report" to a computer. When the user clicks that it should give him several options to include: A selectable date timeframe or Quarter, and what format (CSV file, XLS, etc.) Giving it the ability to "print" directly from the machine could be a longer-range thought, but I suspect that coding would be difficult or downright prohibitive. If it could at least be enhanced to do these 3 items on an upcoming software rev, it would greatly "round out" this unique ability to log your state miles. Right now, I call it a "neat feature" rather than a "powerful tool" but the potential is very exciting.

So on a side note, we have come far enough on this thing to recommend it (at this time, for you early implimenters) and have posted it on our site as the only other "truck" GPS that we endorse for now (free shipping, and a free inverter with it.)

Again, this post was only addressing the "miles-by-state" log feature and I want to make it clear that it is NO detraction from the TND. To the contrary - unless this thing blows up, software crashes, or tells me to go down bad roads with any regularity... we are liking it - a LOT. A very impressive effort by Rand McNally so far. More to come soon

...

Edit to address Nuudges post above: truck routing tests are coming up here too! A HUGE factor when it comes to a new product release is how the quickly the company reacts to initial bugs and prioritizing "fact from fiction" during this all-important phase. Thus far, Rand has been very open and communicative.

 

My IRP report (essentially IFTA mileage report) requires a daily routes and miles. This seems new, but is likely because satellite tracking being so common. I deferred getting the satellite tracking because it was implied the TND 500 could do this.

 

Wow
Not the glowing review I had hoped to read
I should have mine next week
At least RM is stand up enough to let you send it back for a Full refund within 60 days.
I have lived life without a GPS with truck routing.
I will just keep doing it the old way but I plan to give it a fair shot at surprising me
Hell if they would fix the IFTA reporting I might keep it just for that

 

I would like to know from where to where you routed too. either here or in a private msg..

timers do not start until you change on the main screen the unit to driving/on duty...

Give me your information on your routes. RM can input them into a emulator and run the same routes.

Details would be helpful.

I am kind of lost in your posting on half of what you are trying to say or mean.

Override on destination? really not sure what you mean.

2 there, 1 missing? unsure.. are you saying addresses not located? if not, give us the addresses.

I can deal with specifics with RM, generalities are hard to pinpoint.

Thanks,
Mark

 

yes, you are correct about Hanover, PA... 3 listings... but if you pick one and go to the screen that has the big button (begin route),, notice under the map part of the screen .. shows atlas location... one is page 89, one is 47, and the other is Hanover Township (Burgettstown), PA Township, (city center) page 87.

page 89 is the state of PA.... page 47 is Maryland with part of PA showing at the top, and the Hanover Township is over by Pittsburg.

So if you know that Hanover Township, PA you need is not close to Pittsburg you can rule out the 3rd one.

Now on the same screen you have a button next to the Atlas called "go to map" if you touch that and then zoom out you can see where the place is located. If you notice both Hanover, PA's are in the same location.

If you have a RM MCRA (the smaller one), you could have gone to the pages/location listed on that screen and located it on your RM MCRA.

I found this all out in less than 3 minutes. The information is there for your use, RM cannot open the book for you and show you on the atlas... As a Professional Truck Driver you should know how to use a MCRA...

Thanks,
Mark

 

Doesn't sound like the miles by state logging is very useful. I don't need to track the entire year and I doubt any other company driver does. We have programs and office people for that. If there's no way to reset it by trip, then it really is useless, to me anyway.

 

as of this product release the logging was strictly by year/month/state/date... but due to requests as far back as 60 days ago other features will be added.. coding cost money and for this release RM did the best they could to get all the onboard features working.

Other features will be added, but due to the NDA I signed I cannot mention what features will be added. But, as far as logging is concerned RM is looking at different features...

But, until the feature is coded and tested, it cannot be released to the public...

Complaining about the logging features is noted, more than once... if you bought a unit then when the updates are available then you will be able to get via the TND Dock.

So, again I have noted the logging feature request. thanks again..

 

cc or Desielboss: Ive a few questions:
) I dont like attaching items to my windshield, can I install it in the cab somewhere like the dashboard and will I need an external antenna if available?
2)How many via points can be used when creating a route?
3) Does it show exit numbers on the map while driving?
4)Does it show POIs such as weigh stations on the map while driving?
5)can you turn off the display without turning off the whole unit to reduce glare while driving at night?

thank you both for all your help.