Trying to find a good GPS

What's with these new guys? Supertrucker isn't exactly a positive term!

GPS is a handy thing for knowing when the cross street is coming up, and spitting out eta's. But google maps and the atlas are the main tools. Last night my tnd 510 wanted to route me through downtown Chicago; I was past the 159th toll booth before it quit trying to make me turn around. Google nav is far quicker at reroutes and detail. After running this thing for two months, I see why noobs depending on them get their butts in a crack.

 

I thought we went over not sharing the tree bark and moss with the youngsters, next thing yah know they will start following us off the highways.

 

You are correct I did say the incorrect model, my RM is a 510.

 

I will always do the old fashion way and use the truckers atlas and the phone.Only time I ever have used the GPS is compare their routing and directions with my routing and directions to the customer.The GPS does come in handy when you're delivering at night or raining and you can't see the street you're spose to turn on,then yes I use the GPS sexy mans voice to make sure I dont miss the street.How many of you gps users even bother to look at the atlas just to make sure the gps routing didnt give you the longest route compared to the atlas?

 

well said patty,not to creep you out or anything but thats sexy gps voice could be mine,some things I've said have been recorded.

 

hey you never know it could be your voice,lol.I also have a gps on my phone.That gps has always been right on the money compared to my routing.

 

Anyone see the news lately that New York has reported a "dramatic increase" in the number of trucks hitting low over passes? They said that 80% of these incidents are tied to truck drivers using GPS. The major truck friendly GPS suppliers have fired back and said it couldn't have been their units, the truckers must have been using standard GPS....

My brother and I have an additional tool in our cab, a good pair of binoculars. There's been a few times that has come in handy for avoiding low overpasses. Many older towns don't have advanced warning when low overpasses are ahead, they only post the bridge itself. If you can look ahead and read the sign when you still have a chance to use an alternate route that can save some grief. One of our "situations" was a direct result of calling ahead and getting directions from the shipper. Not everyone in the shipper or receiver will know a truck friendly way to get there (and in that particular incident the only apparent way to get in and out of the shipper was to use a street next to a school for a couple of blocks).

 

Funny thing about over pass signs, they only measure the distance between bridge structure and the road surface, most underpasses have dips and not measured for loads or trailers bending without some help.

 

First a bit of advice - learn how to actually read a map and not in what I call a class room setting but by getting out and actually reading a map.

Then learn how to call and ask directions while looking at the map. Once you get the hang of asking questions like "is there any bridges that I can't pass" (I had one that was tall enough but very narrow and couldn't get the truck through).

Then if you want s good stable nav unit - get a Garmin. Garmin has been making nav units for a long time, their products are in aircraft and the military uses them. They have a great reputation and very good customer service. We depend on this as a tool that makes us or saves us time and money, so having a good company behind the product really matters.

 

I like that,a well prepared trk driver.