where to start with a GPS?

GPS recommendations go here, BTW CoPilot works better in Canada than the other standalone units.

 

Getting a GPS is not selling out. It is just another tool to use. I use my GPS, atlas, Google maps, directions to shipper/received over Qualcomm, and call the customer.

Just be smarter than the GPS and don't try to go under a 11ft bridge with a 13'6" truck just because the GPS said to.

I use the Rand McNally 530. Got it for free from a give away. Before that I had the 520 for over 165000 miles and not once did try to send be under a low bridge. It does tend from time to time route you down some really wonky routes, but that is where being smarter than the GPS comes into play. It does have a setting for HazMat routing.

 

Once you get your GPS, go to http://www.poi-factory.com/. Read the FAQs and download your "points of interest". I have all of the major truckstops, weigh stations, rest areas, WalMarts, and BBQ joints ready for easy searching.

 

What kind do you have? My 520 and 530 came with those POI already in the gps. Even has a feature where I can inform them of a place not on their list.

 

I got the rm 720 it does the job. I purchased at best buy with the 2 or 3 year geek squad warrantee. They said it covers any kind of damage or malfunction with full replacement. I figured if I am spending 100's of $ an extra 40 or 50 bucks for a full 2 or 3 year warranty that even covers replacement if I were to damage it is worth it. On top of that if I ever break it or it stops working best buys are everywhere around the country

Can't speak to its performance over the border

 

I was trained to do route planning old school but there are so many features that speeds up the trip planning process and has bebeen pretty reliable. It has steered me wrong a few times but as long as you use commen sense and know to follow road signs over an electronic device it is great

I run around the northeast and go to the Boston area often. I was wondering why it was trying to keep me out of the tunnels. Then I drove thru a tunnel and it said "hazmat violation" (or something like that) I figured out I had it set up so that it thought I was hauling explosives. I have my hazmat but don't ever haul hazmat. You can set it up for different heights, weights, and hazmat

 

I used to use the Tell Rand feature when I first got the TND 700 almost 4 yrs ago and very few if any at all were changed,seems to take a long time for data bases to get updated esp. here in the west. Some did get updated with new map sets but seeing that I have the 720 with the old map set I don't know if there have been any changes to things I reported yrs ago.

 

I much prefer Garmin to Rand. Better user interface, better everything IMHO. I have a factory refurbished TND 510, never been used that I would darned near give away.