Sept 25, 2009 update for the Garmin 465T

Yeah, it looks like they tried to start from scratch instead of building on the platforms they already had. Bad idea.

 

How many times have I helped them "OUT" of an area? Never. No one has ever called in and said "how do I get out of where I am?"

How many times have I helped a driver "INTO" an area using a legal truck route? Hundreds.

How many times have I taught a driver "HOW" to use a laptop or hand-held GPS properly as what it is - a tool like any other? Thousands.

Any driver who relies solely on one source 100% of the time to do his or her job - whether it is a GPS, the RM Road Atlas, the shipper directions, the dispatcher directions, or even an actual road sign - should perhaps consider a career change.

 

Anything new to add to this?

I need to get one for my new Job. Our site maps are outdated and the routing is questionable at times. I know my way around, but there are places in NY state I've never been. I hope to augment my knowledge with a GPS and I am hoping that this Garmin will do the trick for me.

 

Kajidono and Killroy (and I'm sure many others here) can comment on how the Garmin is working in their routes in a different part of the country than me. My boundaries are set in the Northwest these days and I have other brands of GPS in our "tester-drivers" hands elsewhere right now, but I am done with the 465T. I've said it before - Garmin makes a great car GPS, but if you are going to put "truck" on the box then you have an entirely different device to make. The 465T is ok - it isn't the worst one that we tested, but it isn't a highly effective truck route GPS at this time, especially for $500 on a 4.3" screen.

I have updated to the latest firmware and maps on it, but don't know if it still does those seriously irritating reboots and "dementia" when you go off route, since all of my recent days have been with the RM TND unit. Perhaps the other gents can comment of that because I think they updated their last week also. It's important to note whether someone is using the latest software when they comment because most of the brands are updating regularly.

 

It's doing a little better with not freaking out as much off route, but it's still not very good. It's taken to recalculating the route while you're still on it. The directions in town are downright stupid at times. The truck routes are mostly marked in orange on the map it uses but it doesn't know to use the orange routes. It will route you a block past then hook you around through the neighborhood, making one right into two rights and a left.

There are no low clearances entered into the 465t at all as far as I can tell. I wouldn't trust it at all in a full height truck. It also still doesn't care how long your trailer is. 120 degree turn onto a one lane street? Sure!

It's terrible in Kansas. Most of the intersections are off by a couple hundred feet so it starts recalculating before you come to a stop. Then it tells you to go the wrong way. A lot of the addresses are off by up to a mile as well.

Fastest route, isn't. The NTTS directory is a joke. The other truck stops section is worse. The maps are still woefully out of date. The sound stops working and you have to reboot it to fix it (after you notice by missing your turn.)

It's not worth the extra money in my opinion.

 

I had one reboot since loading update 2.70. All I did was exit to a rest stop, I wasn't even off route more than the width of a grass median. I actually started recommending the 205W for $189 vs the $499 465T, it's not up to par from what I expect from Garmin. I do trust the co and I feel that it will improve, it's just tough being out on the bleeding edge.

 

True statement. The 465T is showing promise in that it definitely is better than a regular car GPS. But as you know, they need to put out another mapping update soon, and free. There's too many "holes" right now for that premium price. Garmin has the finances and the ability to update you from any internet connection. So there's still promise there as they mature the unit. I have no idea how much "focus" they have as a company or motivation on the truck segment. Lets hope it is being worked on for those who put out those $$$.

 

This is the reason I decided to take the plunge with the RM.
They have more at stake in the Trucking segment than Garman does.