Truck Routes Not Updated in Timely Fashion Anyone Else Frustrated ?

Discussion in 'Trucking Electronics, Gadgets and Software Forum' started by stuckinthemud, Sep 17, 2015.

  1. stuckinthemud

    stuckinthemud Medium Load Member

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    Title says it all. I am referring to truckers GPS.

    jimmy
     
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2015
  2. 77smartin

    77smartin Road Train Member

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    I'm not frustrated....I don't use a GPS.
     
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  3. STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    Which one. Seems the consensus is that the garmin is the fastest to recalculate routes
     
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  4. stuckinthemud

    stuckinthemud Medium Load Member

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    I am referring to out of date maps used by most of GPS manufacturers , I do not believe this issue is restricted to anyone particular GPS manufacturer including Omnitrac.

    Two days ago in Dallas/Fort Worth metro area the omnitrac system wanted me to take exit 56 on the 820 loop in route to my destination, trouble is that construction had not only closed the exit , it had been ripped out altogether. Whether temporarily or not who knows. My biggest issue is that google maps apparently knew this exit was closed and directed me to a different exit, problem with using google directions is that they don't deal with truck restrictions . Almost found that out the hard way

    jimmy
     
  5. stuckinthemud

    stuckinthemud Medium Load Member

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    I am not making this point clear or very well, But google navigation had the correct information regarding the closed exit, so why don't the GPS companies ?

    jimmy
     
  6. Vilhiem

    Vilhiem Road Train Member

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    Google has a much larger database for one. Plus it's users are the ones who update the roads.

    Ever heard of Waze? Google owns it. It's users can input road closures, changes and the like.

    Often enough, a trucker's GPS doesn't have that capability nor the user-base to confirm any changes without sending a team out to investigate.

    As a last note... Unless you're using a company-provided unit that's tied directly into the truck, it's your job to ensure that you've got all the correct info.

    My advice? Get an atlas, use it.
    GPS is a Good Place to Start.
     
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  7. supersnackbar

    supersnackbar Road Train Member

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    It depends how often you plug it in and download the update. GPS units are only as good as the most recent database, and they only update it once a year or so.
     
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  8. STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    New roads or extensions completions may take 18-24 months or longer before they are actually inputted into Navteq mapping (which is what most all GPS devices use), then you'll have to wait on the device mfg. to publish the new database to it's users and that may take another 3-6 months.

    So if you're expecting your trucker GPS to be aware of bridge construction that began a week ago, you can just get that idea out of your mind right now because that's not the way they work.
     
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  9. stuckinthemud

    stuckinthemud Medium Load Member

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    I have the Rand McNally truck atlas The standard Rand McNally Atlas, also the official Texas road maps provided at Texas rest areas

    Waze might help with current road conditions, and closures, but truck restrictions ?
     
  10. stuckinthemud

    stuckinthemud Medium Load Member

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    I already had my nose rubbed in the fact , that the truck map databases are out of date. Not just new road construction

    jimmy