Truck Driving Jobs

NotSteve · Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 7:04 am Post subject: Garmin GPS truck stop files

If anyone is interested I have created the POI points of interest files for the GARMIN GPS unit. I have included Flying J, Petro, Pilot and TA.

You will need the Garmin POI loader from the Garmin website to install these CSV comma separated files.

Once installed it will show up in your POI Points of Interest menu item. It will allow you to seach all at once with the closest first or by truckstop as in Petro, Flying J, Pilot or TA.

I don't have an FTP site anymore so if someone would email me at steve@easytrucker.net I'll email them back so you can post a link to them

When saving the files on your hard drive make sure you save them as Pilot, Petro, Flying J and TA as this filename will be the one that shows up on the category when you load them.

BanditsCousin · Joined: 05 Jun 2004 Posts: 3337 Location: Chicago, IL

I always drive past truck stops not on the truck stop function. I'd be very interested.

BigDiesel · Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 10:39 pm Post subject:

I am a bit old skool and do not have a GPS... :lol: Which model is recomended for these type of files, and is it easy for a computer simpleton such as myself to use ?? :lol:

NotSteve · Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 10:39 pm Post subject:

BanditsCousin wrote: I always drive past truck stops not on the truck stop function. I'd be very interested.

You have a truck stop function on your Garmin?

BanditsCousin · Joined: 05 Jun 2004 Posts: 3337 Location: Chicago, IL

Click auto services.

Scroll down then down again. It will have "truck stop" option.

NotSteve · Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 11:34 pm Post subject:

Mine is a Garmin Nuvi 350 which has turned out to be one of their most popular models. I think it's under $300 bucks now. I paid close to $700.

It's really really easy to update the unit with these truck stop files. It's pretty much a point and click operation. After you have installed the Garmin POI application you just plug the unit into your laptop with the USB cable and it auto discovers it. From there you just point the application to the folder that contains the files and it loads in a second.

After that you click on the option "Where to". You then click on "My Favorites" then "Points of Interest". It then displays a list.

All
Flying J
Pilot
Petro

You can then click on either All and it will show all the truck stops start with the closest first or you can just click on a particular line.

BigDiesel · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 12:19 am Post subject:

NotSteve wrote: Mine is a Garmin Nuvi 350 which has turned out to be one of their most popular models. I think it's under $300 bucks now. I paid close to $700.

It's really really easy to update the unit with these truck stop files. It's pretty much a point and click operation. After you have installed the Garmin POI application you just plug the unit into your laptop with the USB cable and it auto discovers it. From there you just point the application to the folder that contains the files and it loads in a second.

After that you click on the option "Where to". You then click on "My Favorites" then "Points of Interest". It then displays a list.

All
Flying J
Pilot
Petro

You can then click on either All and it will show all the truck stops start with the closest first or you can just click on a particular line.

I don't think I could even screw that up... Just want to make sure I do not inadvertly launch the missles....

NotSteve · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 2:08 am Post subject:

There are many ways you can use a GPS other than just dumb mode. I always call the customer and ask directions. I then compare the directions to what the GPS wants me to do. If it's different I zoom in on the map and touch the streets the customer wants me to take. I then enter it as a waypoint. Once you have the directions to match the customer it's a no brainer for sure.

9200IH · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Posts: 154 Location: Mid Michigan

Hi Steve I am pretty much computer dumb also.

I have a Garmin Nuvi 700

So this is what I would have to do.??
1. Download the thing from Garmin
2. Go to your site and then download the file you created
3. Load you file from my computer to my Garmin through USB or down load your file to a SD card that goes into my garmin and then the GPS unit will doe the rest?

Did I miss something or is that it? And is it simple to do?

Thanks Mike

Scottt · Joined: 31 May 2007 Posts: 105

I bought one of those World Nav GPS suppose to be the greatest thing for truckers.

Biggest POS I have ever seen. Sent me down a dead end street last night and I had to back up through a intersection to get turned around. Keeps wanting me to take the north exit when I need to be taking the south exit.

I'm sending it back and buying a Garmin.

NotSteve · Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 5:55 am Post subject:

Go to the Garmin site and download the POI loader utility and install it on your laptop. You will also need a USB cable to plug into your laptop and the Garmin unit. The USB cable is any old one that will fit. It plugs into the same place your power cable plugs into.

Here is the site for the loader
http://www8.garmin.com/products/poiloader/
I don't have an FTP site so you will have to email me and I'll send you the files. steve@easytrucker.net

Save all the files to a folder that only holds these files.

Plug your Garmin into your laptop then run the POI loader utility and point it at the folder that contains the files and it will do the rest.

Now go to your Garmin after it's done and click on "Menu" then "Where to" then "My Locations" then "Custom POI".

You will then see a list like Flying J, Petro, TA and Pilot. You can click on any of those and it will show you the closest one or you can click on "All Categories" and it will search all of them and display the closest ones.

I also got the Blue Beacon GPS coordinates for truck washes. I'll search for Loves and other places in the coming days and plan to keep this up to date.

Double R · Joined: 11 Sep 2005 Posts: 967 Location: Pittsburgh, PA

You can download the same file at POI Factory. They have one for Pilot,T/A, Petro, and Loves.
That is where I got mine for the Nuvi 350. They also have files for weight stations and low clearences and alot of useful files for a GPS to make it more truck friendly.

Mackman · Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 2428 Location: Concordville PA

What ever happen to the good old map??

Double R · Joined: 11 Sep 2005 Posts: 967 Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Mackman wrote: What ever happen to the good old map??
Mine still works. My GPS is an aid, not gospel. I still call my P/Us for directions and still double check them by the map. Ever try to find a Bruster's ice cream location by just using a map? Good luck(especially in the Philly area :wink: )

NotSteve · Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 1:03 pm Post subject:

Double R wrote: You can download the same file at POI Factory. They have one for Pilot,T/A, Petro, and Loves.
That is where I got mine for the Nuvi 350. They also have files for weight stations and low clearences and alot of useful files for a GPS to make it more truck friendly.

They don't work and need to be modified. These files need to be in a very specific format and I haven't found one yet that doesn't have errors. All of mine are correct now after spending about 8 hours editing all the .csv files.

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