cant find truck stops - qualcomm advice or purchase a solution
 

hello,


to be fair, I am also posting this inquiry on other good forums.

recently I started a job with a popular trucking company after attending an independent trucking school and orientation/mentoring with the company.

part of the job requires use of a qualcomm which includes a navigation function and I am having problems with this navigation function.

the company sends me wifi data of the next trip:
1. the place where I get my load
2. usually a place to get fuel
3. the place where I drop my load

unfortunately, the data does not include truck or rest stop locations.

during my mentoring, my mentor was able to use the qualcomm navigator to find truck stops by using a path similar to this (this is a touch-screen and he 'clicks' on the following icons):


points of interest > trucking > truck or rest stops > close, along the way, or near destination


I should have paid closer attention, because I have never been able to attain this ability. when I am using the navigation to go to pick up a load, the 'points of interest' icon is greyed out and unusable. I have to literally turn the truck off (the engine) in order to find truck stops (then the 'points of interest' icon is not greyed out), and occasionally the truck stops it offers me are almost 300 miles away. I am NOT receiving quality service from this device in regards to truck stops.

when I first received the truck the battery was completely dead and I think the qualcomm may have been damaged. the company thinks I probably just don't know how to use it. I have no problem with them showing me what I am doing wrong, just as long as I can find a place for the truck when my hours are ending. but for now, I am here asking for experience, expertise, advice, and suggestions.

1. I need to know what I could be doing wrong with the qualcomm navigation, or

2. what kind of device could I buy that would find truck stops. how do you guys find them (besides already knowing about them from your years on the road).

3. would a laptop help at all?


thanks for your experience, expertise, advice, and suggestions.

I can't help with the QC as I run out and back dayly and the QC just tracks my time. But I used to have a book called THE NEXT EXIT that was great! I also had a truck stop guide that listed TS and their size, but The next exit was better as it listed Walmart's fast food and all sorts of stuff near the exit and also told you how to get there from the exit.

You could add the "trucker path" app to your phone. It tells you where truck stops and scales are located.

thanks repete for the suggestion. I will be looking for that book.

freebirdrfd, yeah, I tried that app, but my ancient phone 'could not parse the file' when I tried to install it.

Sounds like my phone! I use it for calls and that's about it, I do text a little. (very little)

Next truck stop you do get to, go inside and see if you can find pamphlets that list all their locations in the US and Canada for that brand. I did that for Cat Scales, got a booklet I keep with me just in case I need it.

I barely use the Navigo system in my truck, it pisses me off too much! Heck the whole thing pisses me off with how slow it reacts at times. I'm ready to go and I gotta waste 5 minutes f-ing with it at each stop. Slows me down and costs me time on my 14.

Freebird is right on. If you have a smart phone, there are some good apps you can download that give all sorts of trucking info on stops, scales, etc. Two I use are Trucker's Tools and Trucker Path. Even the old Trucker's Friend book we used to use in days gone by is online now.