Mapping Software and GPS

[TruckingDog]

Does anyone here use a GPS or a laptop with software like Streets and Trips w/GPS? I hear that dispatchers, STL's, etc are not the greatest in sending directions. Any suggestions?

[allan5oh]

you'll never find perfect directions with software either.

I have both streets and trips and PC miler laptop. Both use GPS. Either software will NOT be perfect. They will not have updated roads, and in some cases, are 20 years behind in Canada! Other instances the software will have roads that are not built yet.

I always find the best is talking to the customer, with map in hand. Don't talk to the front receptionist either! Talk to the shipper/receiver. One guy I know got directions from the receptionist, and got stuck a few hundred feet from a low bridge. Had to call the cops and everything.

[allan5oh]

BTW, streets and trips is MUCH easier to use then PC miler. PC miler is very expensive, not worth it IMO. The interface can be very frustrating.

[TomB985]

I used to travel a lot with my job, all over the northeast. I use DeLorme Street Atlas USA with their Earthmate GPS reciever. It has gotten me lost only once, and that was when I was on vacation in the hills of VT. Other than that, every single address, from city streets to remote areas, has been almost 100% correct, and I've made dozens of trips using only this to navigate.

www.delorme.com

BTW...I just ordered their new Street Atlas USA Plus, it has somthing like 3.5 million updated roads and 120 million residential and business phone numbers and addresses. I hope to get it sometime in the next week, it looks great!

BTW, streets and trips is MUCH easier to use then PC miler. PC miler is very expensive, not worth it IMO. The interface can be very frustrating.

Do you use the basic Streets and Trips or the Streets and Trips with GPS locator?

[bigtimba]

. . have strongly recommended it here and in other forums. That said, I should also point out that I am having a problem with the program right now. I have contacted DeLorme and have been a little disappointed with their response. To their credit, because I have been so happy with it, rather than deal with moron CSR's, I'm going to buy the latest edition and move on. The price and convenience of the product can't be beat.

Time is money and nothing will rob you of your time more than getting lost and getting back on course or worse . . getting stuck. Been there, done it and not about to let it happen again.

[Malaki86]

I use 2 programs: ALK's CoPilot Live 9 Truck & Microsoft Streets & Trips 2006.

CoPilot is pretty good for the actual driving part (POI popups when within 10 miles, 3D driving display, HazMat routing, etc). Streets and Trips is for the actual planning of the route, with scheduled stops.

Streets and Trips 2007 is supposed to have a new 'driving' screen. I can't wait to see what that looks like.

[west_coaster]

Bigtimba...

What kind of issues are you having with Delorme? I was having problems with mine also, and tried to contact their Tech Support (worthless!). It took them two weeks to reply! Well, I figured out the problem and it works great now, maybe I can give you a hint if it's the same issues I was having.

West_Coaster

[bigtimba]

. . Everything seems to be working except I can't see or follow "me" on the map. Also, the "disable screen saver" stopped working. The tech moron instructed me to open the option menu and turn these features on. Like, how do you think we got to this point if I didn't know how to access these features in the first place? MORON . . I turned them on . . I turned them off and turned them on again . . for some reason they are not working and it isn't because I don't know how to turn them off and on . . !

[syl77dar]

good luck

[TomB985]

That's great, I'm sure we're all happy for you.

I thought the thread was about what type of navigation software people use, not whether or not the individual is capable of reading a map.

ON EDIT: After your edit, syl77, I agree with what you said. It just originally sounded kind of condecending, that's all

[GoldiesPlating]

All the software I see mentioned here with the exception of PC Miler is not truck/commercial vechial specific and thus somewhat useless IMHO. Regardless which software I've used, and I've used them ALL, I always check their results against the Rand McNally map I carry.

[jkhunter]

Today I've had QC, Mapquest, Randy McNally, DeLorme 2007, and the department store all give different directions to the same location. They were all off. I'll try to take in account everything possible, then program DeLorme with what I believe to be the best truck route with the Via command. Like most here, I'd never blindly trust a GPS program.

[Kintama]

Streets and trips for me. Don't have the GPS transponder because I don't need it.

[Rev.Vassago]

I would never get by without my Delorme.

[uglymutt]

wow some people actually use delorme, well I only use delorme to find a place of interest, like walmart or a motel or taco bell, just type in what your lookin for and delorme will find all the walmarts within a certain mile radious like 20 miles or any miles you choose, the mapping of delorme is stupid but it has a good database of places to find... for gps or mapping I use MS- S&T for sure, it has never failed me and the gps is great because of you get off track you can see where you are at ... the maps are great and lists everything and its very easy to configure to your liking, kinda like windows , yeah go figure, and soon I am going to get CoPilot laptop truck 9..... just because MS-S&T might send you down a road that says no trucks allowed plus CoPilot laptop Truck 9 is well for truck routes..

another thing I do use to get a birds eye view is Google Earth, but you must have an internet connection like I do now, so you can email and surf the web from anywhere a cell tower is within reach, as to yahoo maps is almost like the original, MapQuest.com, I use them as well, better than yahoo I think, The GPS is nice if you like to know your speed, your altitude and the direction you are traveling especially at night when no sun to show you the way..... its all good and its to what ever you feel like using.... I will try it all anyway just to see if its for me so have fun with your direction finding...

[Rev.Vassago]

the mapping of delorme is stupid

That's odd, considering they use the same exact mapping as MS S&T.

[Toothpick]

the mapping of delorme is stupid

That's odd, considering they use the same exact mapping as MS S&T.

What he really means is MS S&T is a much easier program to learn and use than delorme. If you are familiar with any of the microsoft family of software products, then you can jump right in and start using MS S&T right out out the box without having to read a manual first and go through a long learning curve process.

Also, according to the numerous reviews that I've read comparing the two products, MS S&T comes with a much better GPS receiver too.

What I really like about MS S&T is you can load all the truck stops, rest areas, parking areas, weigh stations, shippers and consignees, terminals, walmarts, etc. using the push pin feature. In addition, you can also easily load in your own customized icons. For instance, in my MS S&Ts that I use, I use the actual TA, Flying J, Pilot, Wilco, and Loves, etc. icons that I copied off the Internet and then minaturized using paint and finally copied to MS S&Ts. Hence, while I'm driving to locations I can see the truck stops, weigh stations, rest areas, etc. coming for miles in advance as I approach them. Or if I want to stop at one of them, I can simply right click it and click add to route, and the program will automatically route me right to it. Indeed, I have loaded literally thousands of them already into my default map and it makes life on the road a lot easier.

[Rev.Vassago]

If you are familiar with any of the microsoft family of software products, then you can jump right in and start using MS S&T right out out the box without having to read a manual first and go through a long learning curve process.

I wasn't even aware that any of my Delorme products came with a manual - I never needed to look for one.

What I really like about MS S&T is you can load all the truck stops, rest areas, parking areas, weigh stations, shippers and consignees, terminals, walmarts, etc. using the push pin feature. In addition, you can also easily load in your own customized icons.

Something you can do with Delorme as well, although they already list most of the truck stops throughout the country.

You would be surprised how similar these products are. It still makes me laugh when someone cuts down one of them, considering the amount of shared technology they use.

Now Sirius and XM, that's a whole different story. :wink:

[geeshock]

I've used delorme, ms s&t, mapquest. I use all items at my disposal, even, hark, imagine this, paper maps, lol. I like both delorme and ms