Truck GPS apps

I looked into the apps since I have a note, there were complaints about all of them pretty much for sending people into bad areas, low clearances, not having a full database etc. If you really want a truck GPS I would just go with a real one where they have been around for awhile and have stuff a lot more updated.

The atlas is your friend as well, it wont help a ton in cities but follow signs and pay attention and you will see signs that say no trucks on a street or a sign that states truck route etc.

Your company should also be giving you directions to places, GPS is a nice tool to have but dont rely on it, the darn thing has taken me to spots I shouldnt of been in or shows i have arrived and its a dirt field....just be careful and pay attention. If you end up getting a GPS also use the atlas with it, look at the directions and follow them on the map to see if you should be using that.

 

I also use Google maps and use satelite layers to see the place im going to and the roads around it, it gives me an idea which roads look big enough, safe enough etc, also sometimes you will get an address on one street but the place has the truck entrance on another street behind it...

It helped me a couple days ago since I was going to a Quaker shipper and the docks were on a small street not much larger than an alley, I was able to look and see if I went around and came in through the other direction I would at least avoid blind backing, of course when I got there they told me to drop the trailer and the yard goat would handle it since it was a tight area, the point is that I was prepared to do it myself, use some of these tips and they can help you a lot out there.

 

i use copilot. it's truck specific and won't steer you wrong.

i also have there hand held unit called pcmiler.

i use google maps for when the unit or phone can't find the address. google usually does and finds the business name.

 

if you read all the reviews there are some who talk about the copilot taking them to areas they dont belong

I never tried the pcmiler

 

From current available choices (truck-specific for smartphone / tablets / iOS apps?) It is CoPilot Truck.

 

if your going to spend $150 on copilot then just spend a little more and get a real truck gps

 

Certainly.

There is indeed value in starting a thread to discuss the pros and cons of which hardware format is best suited for the driver (stand-alone units, iPad/iPhone, Android tablet/smartphone, Windows tablet, Windows laptop, etc.)

But in this thread, I was just replying to the original poster's topic question.

 

I agree 100%. Atlas for big roads, GPS, eyeballs and common sense for the city. Another old school trick- call the receiver. A lot of times they can guide you straight to the yard and dock and give you a heads up about entrances, buildings, etc.

 

pcmiler is cheaper then copilot. and made by the same company.

as for being led astray. is that the gps's fault????

all gps's lead drivers astray. nothing is perfect. and i've only had a couple of instances my unit wanted me to turn on a road that either couldn't be done. or had no truck signs. if a driver is dumb enough to go on a road he doesn't belong on becuase gps told him too. then, that's his own problem.

but i've also had pickups and deliveries that were on no truck roads. OR, your only option to get there is a no truck road.

tooele utah has 2 shippers that are on no truck roads.

i'm happy with copilot and pcmiler. won't try any other brand till what i have no longer exists. i tried one of them other brands most of you love so dearly. that thing is such a joke that it's not even funny.