Using Google maps vs. Dedicated GPS unit:

Gps doesn't lose service as much as your phone.

Just get a real gps. A few hundred bucks isn't crap in the long run.

Good thing about the phone is it auto updates the map. Anytime I would get near Montreal my GPS wanted to freak the hell out no matter how many updates I gave it.

 

I run both and here's why I use Google maps. It gives live updates on accidents speed traps and traffic. If there is traffic I'll start looking for away around it if it's bad. Common sense goes a long ways while using it though.

 

Google maps is made for cars not trucks. Google maps is a fantastic app for a car. But! It will route you down places you shouldn't go with a truck. A decent Truck GPS unit will save you a lot of hassles and the Garmin truck GPS has a phone app that will allow you live updates on traffic. Spend the money. You will not be sorry; Run both as I do if you like. But trust neither 100%. JMHO

 

You need an app for that now?

Mine would always have a little bubble either green yellow or red in the screen for traffic to the next waypoint.

 

Do you mean using google maps to trip plan or for enroute navigation? I hope you don't just plug an address into a device and take off with no planning at all.
I liked to use google maps satellite view to look at the destination.. Find the truck entrance and plug the grid coordinates into a gps rather than the street address which might not be where my truck will fit. Usually a company address is for the office drones, not trucks.
As for avoiding traffic snarls, I depended on the CB.

 

This. And I OCD my trip planning. I’ll even break out the atlas.

I never just punch in an address and go. I’ll use google streetview as mentioned, and satellite the address to plan my entrance/exit.

I use them both for trip planning, but mostly rely on my notes and signs for what exits/turns to take.

Just gotta remember that google thinks you’re in a hatchback.

Garmin has sent me down foul paths before. Neither is fail proof, and just plugging an address in and rolling is asking for trouble.

 

I used my PFJ points to get the Garmin Deal 710 a couple weeks ago. So far, I love it. There's still a place for Google Maps, like with street view, but I never really liked using my phone for navigation. The Garmin seems to have pretty up to date traffic info and will route you around issues. It also shows satellite imagery for your destination. I have a little more trust in the Garmin suggested detours as far as truck routes than Google Maps. With Google, I usually didn't follow detours if I wasn't familiar with the area. I know you can't blindly trust it, I'll still keep my eyes open and use common sense. It routed me around a shutdown on I-10 in West Texas last weekend that would have otherwise caused me to run out of hours before getting to the destination.

 

You can use Google satellite view, the atlas, and sometimes a city's online municipal code to determine the truck route, and put pins to set the waypoints that correspond to the truck route. Use the Bluetooth on the radio for audio turn-by-turn directions. You can do this with a GPS also but I think Google Maps is quicker to set up the route. It's usually easy to pick out the truck route using the satellite map only. If the road goes through an industrial area with warehouses you figure trucks are allowed, however, I was surprised by No Truck signs on Ramona Blvd in Perris, CA today.