Professional GPS
February 1, 2008 6:59 PM Subscribe
My future father-in-law drives a semi for a national trucking company and currently uses a PDA with GPS capabilities for navigation. He's not entirely satisfied with this.
The main problem is routing. As a truck driver, routes my be limited or have bridges that are too low; personal GPS software doesn't have to deal with these issues. He's noticed a couple of solutions at various truck stops, but they seem very proprietary and cost-prohibitive. Please hive mind, help him get home. (Just kidding...he can do that.)
He's not just looking for a software solution, hardware solutions are welcomed.
The main problem is routing. As a truck driver, routes my be limited or have bridges that are too low; personal GPS software doesn't have to deal with these issues. He's noticed a couple of solutions at various truck stops, but they seem very proprietary and cost-prohibitive. Please hive mind, help him get home. (Just kidding...he can do that.)
He's not just looking for a software solution, hardware solutions are welcomed.
The circa $300 dash/windscreen mounted GPS systems (available from Fry's, Best Buy and the like. Anywhere electrical, really)usually have a "truck' setting that our driver uses all the time and swears by. I believe it is a Garmin that he has, but most of them have the particular setting for a truck - it avoids sharp u-turns if you go wrong, unsuitable roads, bridges, etc. It's pretty good for what he wants.
I don't have a model number, sadly, but the important thing is the truck option.
posted by Brockles at 8:34 PM on February 1, 2008
I don't have a model number, sadly, but the important thing is the truck option.
posted by Brockles at 8:34 PM on February 1, 2008
My friend who is a truck driver swears by his laptop, USB GPS sensor, and Microsoft Streets & Trips.
posted by qvtqht at 8:49 PM on February 1, 2008
posted by qvtqht at 8:49 PM on February 1, 2008
Garmin announced a cellphone / GPS in the last couple days that could be worth looking at.
posted by jjb at 11:51 PM on February 1, 2008
posted by jjb at 11:51 PM on February 1, 2008
Any Garmin is good. They have just refreshed their model range and you can pick up deals on perfectly good "old" stock - and they will update the maps gratis if you contact Garmin
posted by A189Nut at 4:32 AM on February 2, 2008
posted by A189Nut at 4:32 AM on February 2, 2008
My father is a trucker and also uses Microsoft Streets and Trips. He has had a couple of times where the maps are out of date, but he relies on it without any problems 99% of the time.
posted by heatherann at 8:47 AM on February 2, 2008
posted by heatherann at 8:47 AM on February 2, 2008
I noted that pupdog's linked product uses PC MILER software. A friend works for a logistics company that handles thousands of shipments and that's the software they use.
posted by desjardins at 1:26 PM on February 2, 2008
posted by desjardins at 1:26 PM on February 2, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by pupdog at 8:01 PM on February 1, 2008