The truck software (Promiles, PC Miler, etc.) is handy for checking dispatched mileages against the route you'll run, as well as getting a quick idea of your drive time with truck speed limits factored in. I don't think anyone suggests that any piece of software takes the place of checking the motor carrier's atlas and customer's directions. It's just a quick reference tool and, in the case of the web-based version, a free one.
For example, the next load I'll run - Suffolk, VA to Maumee, OH:
Stop summary from my dispatcher says 660 miles;
Truckmiles.com practical route says 674 miles (12 hours 18 minutes)
Truckmiles.com truck shortest says 608 miles (15 hours 44 minutes)
Practical with no tolls says 669 miles (13 hours 53 minutes)
I find that I generally make better time than the results suggest, but they're in the ballpark.
So I just spent three minutes running a few scenarios and, with that information, I can decide whether I want to use one of those routes or some other combination of my own. If I paid my own tolls, I could weigh the extra hour and a half of driving against the cost of the tolls and such. The original question referred to "better than Mapquest" and I'm pretty sure these routes are much better, both in terms of legality and practicality.
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