GPS On Your Truck Equipment

How much do you guys and gals trust your on-board GPS device? Or is there some other device or app that you use, that you have found works better? I have heard from a number of folks they use multiple options to get the best directions. Especially for a big rig. What have you folks found that works best for you? Thank you

Although i'm not driving yet, I think a combination of Gps, Google maps, Carriers instructions, all combined with a current Rand McNally Motor Carriers Atlas, should keep you in good shape. By all means, DO NOT use a GPS unit designed for cars. It could put you in a real bind. There are Trucker specific GPS units on the market.

Maybe I'm lazy, but I use the Qualcomm GPS nearly exclusively. Google Maps/Satellite helps.

(When GoogMaps sends out a traffic jam warning, it could save you hours by turning you on to a bypass.)

I'm like Erol. I do use the trip planner on Trucker Path app sometimes to get a look at the location I'm going into.

My Qualcomm directions are usually pretty good.

Maybe I'm lazy, but I use the Qualcomm GPS nearly exclusively. Google Maps/Satellite helps.

(When GoogMaps sends out a traffic jam warning, it could save you hours by turning you on to a bypass.)

I have never used googlemaps because Waze has always gotten me by. (for my car) I am assuming if your using googlemaps at the moment they will alert you to a traffic jam in live time?

Steve, I have trucker path. How do you like it?

T Man, Rand McNally Motor Carriers Atlas- gotta pick this up soon.

Yes, I think it's Google maps that sends out warnings. Road construction, yeah, but when the accident warning comes up, I look at the congestion ahead.

Remember this: most Interstates outside of downtowns usually have a parallel "regular" road. If you're lucky enough to have an off ramp ahead, you'll save clock-eating traffic jam time.

I spent the extra cash on the Atlas with the laminate pages. A lot of drivers recommend it for durability and the fact you can use dry erase markers on th pages. BTW the thing is HUGE, about 12x20 and an inch thick.

E, I have a two part strategy.

First, I compare my overall route suggestion, with my GPS routing, with my Road Atlas. This gets me familiar with where I am going, as well as which cities I will pass thru. I also make a notation on which streets are listed as a bypass. It is always helpful to be looking for the bypass truck route, and take it, in order to avoid potential tickets, low bridges, traffic jams, narrow city streets, etc. In some rare cases, the bypass will be a waste of time, but you will learn about these situations over time thru trial and error, and talking to other drivers.

Secondly, I send for my local directions, which are usually provided and updated by other company drivers. Sometimes the driver will provide a slightly different address to enter into the GPS, than the one given in the primary load assignment. This is because the primary address if for administrative offices, not the shipping and receiving dept.

Once I have entered into the GPS the correct address, I will then go back to my history page, and select the same address again, only this time, I will enlarge the map, to show the street view of the area of my destination. Then using my pen or stylus, I can check the names of specific streets. This will allow me to familiarize myself with the general area, compare it to my local directions, as well as highlight and route thru any specific streets. This can make it super simple to follow the local directions, which can sometimes be critical to the local traffic flow, as well as the customers preferences on how they want their carriers to be routed in and out of their facility.

The final thing to keep in mind, is that you MUST know when to ignore your GPS, when it tries to send you in the wrong direction, and eventually it will do this. The only way to know when to ignore the GPS, is to know where you are going without it. In essence, your GPS can provide assistance in confirming you are taking the correct route, but it is always wise to know where you are going without the assistance of the GPS. It may in some cases help some drivers, to mute the volume of the GPS, while keeping an eye on it, and noting where it is telling you to make your next turn. If you ever find yourself considering ripping your GPS off the dash and throwing it out the window, turning the volume down can take the edge off.

Maybe I'm lazy, but I use the Qualcomm GPS nearly exclusively. Google Maps/Satellite helps.

(When GoogMaps sends out a traffic jam warning, it could save you hours by turning you on to a bypass.)

I have never used googlemaps because Waze has always gotten me by. (for my car) I am assuming if your using googlemaps at the moment they will alert you to a traffic jam in live time?

Steve, I have trucker path. How do you like it?

T Man, Rand McNally Motor Carriers Atlas- gotta pick this up soon.

I love Trucker Path. Especially since it's free. Sometimes my Qualcomm will give me a route but Trucker Path shows me more than one. Sometimes a route other than the Qualcomm route is more efficient (in time and mpg). The Qualcomm route is usually shortest miles, even though it might only be by a few and take me on slower roads.

I also like Trucker Path because it helps me choose where I'm gonna stop for a 10hr.

I refuse to spend $ on a separate gps.

Good luck and I hope this helps.

My company knight uses Zonar for their on board elogs , messaging and gps and the gps sucks... badly. I myself don't use it and never have but I have never heard any good about it. also because of where zonar is mounted you have to take your eyes way off the road to see themap and audio directions sound horrible.

I use googlemaps, garmin truck gps and will be buying a motorcarrier atlas next week. also Knight does give you a list of directions you can use as well.