Truck Driving Jobs

Darin Younce · Joined: 24 Aug 2007 Posts: 342

Ok, I know there is a discussion somewhere already but , I would like to know if any of you guys have one and what should I look for. My Dear ole Dad said he was going to get me one for a present. He said pick out a good one and did not put a limit on the price, but I can't get crazy with the price, so I was thinking around three hundred bucks .

Fredog · Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Posts: 2271 Location: North Georgia

Darin Younce wrote: Ok, I know there is a discussion somewhere already but , I would like to know if any of you guys have one and what should I look for. My Dear ole Dad said he was going to get me one for a present. He said pick out a good one and did not put a limit on the price, but I can't get crazy with the price, so I was thinking around three hundred bucks .

check here for reviews
http://www.retrevo.com/s/GPS?gclid=CJKkuNq_7pECFQQClwodwkJoww

henboy1 · Joined: 11 Nov 2006 Posts: 136

Good website fred dog.Stay the heck away from the garbage TomTom XL or any tomtom product.I bought my TomTom One from radioshack in Dec. on sale fro $140 and already, there is no reading on the display.I felt stranded until went to Walmart and bought the Garmin Nuvi 200.It has more POI(point of interest) as in Truck stops,rest areas,hospitals,truck repairs lstings and the list goes on.I don't even know how to use a map, I just route my MS streets and trips on my laptop to get my state line mileage and then I go to my GPS to start rolling.
There is no # on TomToms website to contact them for warranty issues.Stay away from that gadget.
Anyway I have been reading your car hauling eagerness and I have been reading it since day one.It reminds me when I first started driving trucks 2 yrs ago in containers.Good job!

Fredog · Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Posts: 2271 Location: North Georgia

henboy1 wrote: Good website fred dog.Stay the heck away from the garbage TomTom XL or any tomtom product.I bought my TomTom One from radioshack in Dec. on sale fro $140 and already, there is no reading on the display.I felt stranded until went to Walmart and bought the Garmin Nuvi 200.It has more POI(point of interest) as in Truck stops,rest areas,hospitals,truck repairs lstings and the list goes on.I don't even know how to use a map, I just route my MS streets and trips on my laptop to get my state line mileage and then I go to my GPS to start rolling.
There is no # on TomToms website to contact them for warranty issues.Stay away from that gadget.
Anyway I have been reading your car hauling eagerness and I have been reading it since day one.It reminds me when I first started driving trucks 2 yrs ago in containers.Good job!

you must have me confused with someone else, I haul tankers, never have or wanted to haul cars..
anyway, I got a Iway 250c with my flying J points and I am quite happy with it.

tracer · Joined: 17 Mar 2007 Posts: 221 Location: Guelph, ON, Canada

Darin Younce wrote: Ok, I know there is a discussion somewhere already but , I would like to know if any of you guys have one and what should I look for.

I bought a Garmin StreetPilot C330 for around $300 a few months ago. I'm quite happy with it. I wouldn't look at the price when choosing a GPS. I think you should play with many models in the store before buying to make sure you're comfortable using them. Mine has "trucks" option in the menu but it still routes me as a car. So I have to watch for low bridges and restricted bridges. The only 2 things I'd be really particular about when choosing a GPS are:

1) how easy it is to update the maps.

Mine has a memory card slot but updating the maps from 2007 to 2008 was a pain in the neck. Make sure to ask the salesperson if your GPS maps are updatable. You're likely to keep it for longer than a year and map updates come out yearly.

2) if the GPS names STREETS when telling to make a turn.

Mine just says "turn right in 800 ft" and quite a few times I took a wrong turn because the intersections I'm going thru were confusing. Better GPS gadgets say in the above scenario, "Turn right on Roger Street in 800 feet." This is much more useful.

But overall I'm happy with my Garmin and my next GPS will probably be of the same make.

Ratdog · Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Posts: 115 Location: Ohio

tracer wrote:
Mine has "trucks" option in the menu but it still routes me as a car. So I have to watch for low bridges and restricted bridges.
Tracer, is there additional software for the trucks that might not be loaded? I have Streets and Trips on my laptop, but thought about getting a portable unit instead.

Bandit102 · Joined: 22 Nov 2006 Posts: 245

I have a nuvi 660 and like it quite well, although you have to stay a step or 2 ahead of it.

I've recently talked with the folks at ALK (PC Miler) and they are about to release a handheld unit specifically for trucks, with truck routes, that will not take you to a 9' bridge. They told me it should retail for around $379 and should be out right away.

Ratdog · Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Posts: 115 Location: Ohio

Bandit102 wrote: I have a nuvi 660 and like it quite well, although you have to stay a step or 2 ahead of it.

I've recently talked with the folks at ALK (PC Miler) and they are about to release a handheld unit specifically for trucks, with truck routes, that will not take you to a 9' bridge. They told me it should retail for around $379 and should be out right away.

I have read about that Copilot 11 they have. A handheld would be better than having the laptop on all the time. Thanks

mike3fan · Joined: 04 Aug 2006 Posts: 1707 Location: michigan

Ratdog wrote: I have read about that Copilot 11 they have. A handheld would be better than having the laptop on all the time. Thanks

Whats wrong with having the laptop on all the time,insted of trying to read a tiny little 3.5" screen I have a nice big 17" screen to read the gps,works like a charm.I run MS street and trips and CoPilot 9.

Bandit102 · Joined: 22 Nov 2006 Posts: 245

Here's what he sent me in the e-mail:

On a separate note, we have not released this to the public, but we will be offering a PND (Personal Navigation Device) in May.

It has a 4 � inch screen that you can set in your cab. It is truck specific and truck legal directions. It will have spoken turn by turn GPS directions and mapping.

I believe that it will cost $399. I tested one two weeks ago and it was great. I just plugged it in and it worked instantly.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Brian

His e-mail address is bglassmoyer@alk.com

Ratdog · Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Posts: 115 Location: Ohio

mike3fan wrote: Ratdog wrote: I have read about that Copilot 11 they have. A handheld would be better than having the laptop on all the time. Thanks

Whats wrong with having the laptop on all the time,insted of trying to read a tiny little 3.5" screen I have a nice big 17" screen to read the gps,works like a charm.I run MS street and trips and CoPilot 9.

DieselBoss had a laptop mount stand that would work. I have a Dell 17" myself. My streets and Trips doesn't have GPS. I have used a friends Tom Tom and the screen size didn't bother me. Plus I thought a handheld would be good for the car trips. Guess I just need to figure out how I want to go.

SteveBooth · Joined: 18 May 2005 Posts: 3501

I have the Garmin Nuvi 350 and love it.

terrylamar · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1428 Location: Austin, TX

mike3fan wrote: Ratdog wrote: I have read about that Copilot 11 they have. A handheld would be better than having the laptop on all the time. Thanks

Whats wrong with having the laptop on all the time,insted of trying to read a tiny little 3.5" screen I have a nice big 17" screen to read the gps,works like a charm.I run MS street and trips and CoPilot 9.

If it works for you I would continue to use it.

tracer · Joined: 17 Mar 2007 Posts: 221 Location: Guelph, ON, Canada

Ratdog wrote: Tracer, is there additional software for the trucks that might not be loaded? I have Streets and Trips on my laptop, but thought about getting a portable unit instead.

I do prefer small GPS units to a software on a laptop (laptops are too pricey to subject them to the dust and vibration during travel). I have heard about AKL ... but I don't think there's a small GPS designed specifically for truckers yet. The way I deal with the situation is I just check my map for any truck-related restrictions when the GPS sends me thru anything that's not in interstate. I used Streets and Trips before too but I have switched to a Mac (macbook laptop) which I like and there's no Streets and Trips for them (unless I install Windows on the Mac - which is possible thanks to the Intel processors).

Ratdog · Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Posts: 115 Location: Ohio

tracer wrote: I do prefer small GPS units to a software on a laptop (laptops are too pricey to subject them to the dust and vibration during travel). I have heard about AKL ... but I don't think there's a small GPS designed specifically for truckers yet. The way I deal with the situation is I just check my map for any truck-related restrictions when the GPS sends me thru anything that's not in interstate. I used Streets and Trips before too but I have switched to a Mac (macbook laptop) which I like and there's no Streets and Trips for them (unless I install Windows on the Mac - which is possible thanks to the Intel processors).

I found that Garmin has a 7500 series, with a 7" screen built for larger vehicles. Like you said, software that is for truck related restrictions is what everyone is looking for in a unit. If bandit is right, with the email he received about the AKL device, I guess I can hold on til May to see what others think about it. I have used my laptop on trips but it sits in the seat and don't want it to get messed up either. May will be here before we know it!

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