GPS- Necessary Or Optional?

The GPS CFI has built into our PeopleNet is the worst thing one could use. You could do better navigating by the stars. An Atlas is the first thing I bought. It is filled with a world of information. I use Google maps satellite view to see how I'm going to get into a place. I bought a refurbished Rand McNally TND 730 from Amazon for around $250. I love it. It usually brings me to the truck entrance of truck stops and most shippers/receivers I go to. I find this a necessary tool. Yes, you can navigate with an atlas and google maps or just an atlas, pen, paper and good directions.

GPS are just a tool like others have said. An atlas is just a tool but does not update, going into Chicago. An atlas is not as precise, but an atlas with Google maps is just as good as a GPS and way cheaper. My first choice would be to have a GPS because it's easy to use, my second choice would be a atlas and Google maps. With whatever system you use, you must use your head above all else.

The company I’m training with instructs us to use all the tools available to get from a to b. Truckers atlas, GPS, company suggested routing, google satellite images, and most importantly your brain! I compare all sources when figuring out my routing. None are perfect but all are useful. The gps gives live traffic and weather data but sometimes wants to deviate from approved truck routes, the map book is reliable and can’t suffer from technology failure but the downside is it’s out of date already by the time it’s published. The company routing thru Qualcomm doesn’t always follow the best possible route but if you are stuck due to a traffic jam/ closed road/ bad weather it has the upside of plausible deniability because “I was just following orders.” A mix of all sources will give you the most success.

My life in the Army taught me a valuable life lesson. Work smarter, not harder. Like I mentioned before, I own and carry an Atlas; however, my GPS has yet to lead me to any major failures. Some odd routes yes, but nothing a bit of common sense and situational awareness could not compensate for. Now granted, some GPS's and software are better than others. I'll keep using mine, I've saved likely 20-30 hours sitting in traffic thanks to the timely traffic notifications and alt routes provided. Something that would have been rather hard to do if I needed to pull over and consult the stone tablet..I mean Road Atlas for another route.

My life in the Army taught me a valuable life lesson. Work smarter, not harder. Like I mentioned before, I own and carry an Atlas; however, my GPS has yet to lead me to any major failures. Some odd routes yes, but nothing a bit of common sense and situational awareness could not compensate for. Now granted, some GPS's and software are better than others. I'll keep using mine, I've saved likely 20-30 hours sitting in traffic thanks to the timely traffic notifications and alt routes provided. Something that would have been rather hard to do if I needed to pull over and consult the stone tablet..I mean Road Atlas for another route.

So it would be nice to know what the GPS users are using as a go to GPS.

Reference to Stone Tablet...

For me, I will look at the stone tablet as part of my trip plan if I am not sure of the route or destination. It gives me a birds eye view of where I am actually headed; a perspective a GPS cannot provide.

My life in the Army taught me a valuable life lesson. Work smarter, not harder. Like I mentioned before, I own and carry an Atlas; however, my GPS has yet to lead me to any major failures. Some odd routes yes, but nothing a bit of common sense and situational awareness could not compensate for. Now granted, some GPS's and software are better than others. I'll keep using mine, I've saved likely 20-30 hours sitting in traffic thanks to the timely traffic notifications and alt routes provided. Something that would have been rather hard to do if I needed to pull over and consult the stone tablet..I mean Road Atlas for another route.

So it would be nice to know what the GPS users are using as a go to GPS.

My primary GPS is a Garmin Fleet 760. So far I've had no issues in my companies primary lanes. We focus mostly in FL, GA, SC, NC, VA, TN, KY, TX, AL, MS, LA, AR, and OK. I'm not sure if we use anything special besides what's built into the unit, but it's kept me on legal roads and clearly indicates when I'm approaching non-truck authorized roads with fairly consistent accuracy.

Well...I'll probably cause some to think I'm crazy with this, but here goes:

I simultaneously run a Garmin 770, a Rand 740, and the DriverTech nav in the MDT provided by the company. I consult the big atlas now and then. I check Google Maps for the area right around the shipper and/or consignee. I also have a tablet handy with Trucker Path, One20, etc. Also I have a couple of weather utilities on my phone in addition to that which is provided by the Rand 740 (the Rand is connected to my WiFi hotspot).

Sure it takes me a couple of minutes to set all this stuff up for each trip. But I find the convenience of having these tools at my disposal to be well worth it and my tail has been saved many times by all this stuff...often a different piece of equipment one time from the next.

It is 2018....why not take advantage of it.

If I could choose just one of the devices, I'd go with the Garmin 770...it is the best nav tool available for truckers, in my opinon. I think that the Rand is junk by comparision...I mainly run it for the weather/traffic, especially the wind speed - I keep that overlay up all the time. The DriverTech's current app is pretty new and incomplete, but shows promise.

Of course one cannot be a trucker without RM's motor carrier atlas. I don't need it often, but when I do, I do. I had to pull it out today in order to help with a special situation - I'm trying to jam a lunch tomorrow with one of my kids and some grandkids while at the same time remaining close to compliant with the company's routing instructions. If I get sent through/near/to/by Chicago, then this is going to happen! I don't get to see this bunch when I take time off because they don't live near any of my other family members.

One more thing - you also need a dry erase marker. There are two roads I know of that most companies will try to avoid...the Chicago Skyway and the PA Turnpike, because both are very expensive for trucks. When I'm sent through PA, I often have to make 857 turns to avoid the 'pike, and it is too tiresome to input the necessary waypoints into the nav unit to accomplish it. So I put a couple of waypoints in and then I write the turns on the windshield with the marker. If twisting through SE PA avoiding that 'pike, it is very important to mark the location of the great BBQ place on 322 so you don't accidentally eat a half hour before you get there....also you need to be sure not to follow their dumb sign which runs you onto a no-trucks cowpath. I sometimes write local directions to some hard to get to DCs on the w/s because I can't remember anything. If you're young and smart, maybe you can look at some directions and remember them. I cannot - I'm old and dumb.

Best wishes as you get started in this industry.

I'm about to enter CDL training. And one question I have is if a GPS unit is considered a necessary piece of equipment once I go solo. If so, and if not able to afford the top of the line unit, are there "older" units that will get the job done and are user friendly? I'm looking for some personal experiences with different units.