Question:
I was wondering about GPS systems in trucks. I know that most trucks have some sort of GPS tracking, but I was wondering about personal road units....
like Garmin or the new TomTom, etc.
Are they widely used or not?
Answer:
I see them as pretty much a "waste of money". And here is why: We have Motor Carrier Atlas's to use. I think running your routes on a laptop is great. I do it all the time and have two programs for it. But that is where I stop.
I think its foolish to mount a gps unit and use it to run a route. It is not enough that we have all of the other things going on around us while driving a tractor and pulling a 53' trailer in heavy traffic on an interstate or country road.... Looking away from the road to look at a gps unit is simply un-necessary. Its bad enough to refer to a map while enroute..... but to fumble with buttons on a gps. Nope. Seems to me to be a recipe for disaster......
I live on a sailboat, I own three gps's, and am familiar with them and navigate with em. Frankly, while they are invaluable on a boat.... I simply see them as an un-necessary distraction in a truck.
If you are simply using it to keep track of your "general progress" and where you are....thats probably ok, but routing.... nope.So I like what I do, you don't, too bad, get over it. Get on with your life, I am.

Answer:
Unnecessary. Especially what you're talking about. $500-1000. You can go with a DeLorme or Microsoft Streets & Trips GPS with a laptop for $100. Still unnecessary. Most normal people that buy this get bored with it in a week or two. The true, bored shiatless BBR's use it around the clock. They probably like to look at their speed or the colorbook look of the maps or "gully Cletus, I dun been 1/4 of an inch on this here thang in the last 15 minutes". We've got a couple here at Trucknut that run bascially dedicated routes that use it full time. These kind are really too stupid and bored to follow their own nose. Use a cell phone to call shippers/receivers and buy a Rand Truckers Atlas. All you need.______
|l ,[____],
l---L –OlllllO-
()_) ()_)-(-)_)
I'd rather die on my feet like a man than live on my azz hiding in a truck.........Sir James Brown

Answer:
When driving in unfamiliar conditions, the last thing you have time for is looking at the GPS trying to find directions. When I go to a new customer, if it's not in my Quallcomm, I call the customer and get directions. I write them down on a notepad in the truck, that I can reference when I need to. If they are in the Qualcomm, I still write down a quick and dirty version on paper and goo off of them. TomTom and other systems are biased towards cars, and don't take your length, weight and height into consideration in routing. get a good Truckers level road atlas and learn to use it to preplan your routes. Electronics can be a big help, but they can also cost you a lot of problems if over relied upon. My 02.

Answer:
Most of the GPS systems out there today have an audible option. Meaning, as you're approaching a turn it will say "Turn right in 1000 feet, 500 feet, turn right now...etc" so you don't even have to look at the screen.
I used GPS when I drove and it helped out alot. I only turned it on when I was near the shipper/receiver and needed detailed directions. Also, when I got my load assignment, I'd fire it up and get a detailed map of the area. Having a mental picture of where you're going is a huge advanatge.
You can get a tax-break for the laptop, GPS receiver, and software as well.

Answer:
I use my PDA GPS when I go to unfamiliar location / place. As PsuedoShuffler stated above, I preferred to have a general idea where I am about to be heading into.
I feel it kinda hard to try to drive and at the same time try to remember what the map indicated [my opinion]. My GPS map is Mapopolus on an Axim that will indicate direction [audible] to where the next turn. If I see a deadend street but the map indicated it is not, it can reroute automatically or manually search for another route on your own.
I found using paper map while driving is kind of hard and dangerous when you have to get somewhere on time and trying to avoid making a complete stop just to look for where you currently located and see where you need to be going.
My ¼ shiny penny worth.

Answer:

I agree with Fred
Best thing since sliced bread. I use mine constantly.
____________________________________
Mark; must need more chicken lights

Answer:
And for those true BBR's put your money where your mouth is. Step up in class.
You can look at this one until the cows come home______
|l ,[____],
l---L –OlllllO-
()_) ()_)-(-)_)
I'd rather die on my feet like a man than live on my azz hiding in a truck.........Sir James Brown

Answer:
Can I get Truck.Nut on dat?

Answer:
A Billy Big can Rig anything. Just ask him.______
|l ,[____],
l---L –OlllllO-
()_) ()_)-(-)_)
I'd rather die on my feet like a man than live on my azz hiding in a truck.........Sir James Brown

Answer:

They are not as widely used by truck drivers as you might guess. I use one, and would not drive without it.
Because of my GPS, i never run out of route, never miss a turn, and i always know exactly where i am and how far i have to go.
I also can find a quick detour any time traffic is backed up.
Don't listen to the naysayers, they probably arent smart enough to learn how to use one
Here is another thread you might find interesting
http://roundtable.truck.net/viiewt.php?t=56688
also, don't get a tomtom. although Garmin units are excellent, be sure to get one that allows you to create routes on a laptop and upload to the GPS.

Answer:
DOES DELORME LET YOU INPUT ROUTE PLANS?
Answer:

Yes.
I use my Delorme constantly. I run HHG, and would get lost easily in residential areas without it. My paper atlas isn't gonna help me when the city I am going to is just a little black dot on the map.
Try asking a homeowner who has lived in their house for 20 years how to get there with a big truck. You'll buy a GPS the next day.

Answer:
I have used Magellan 700 for about a year now and would not drive without it.
It will occasionally steer you wrong but for every time that has happened, I can count a hundred times it has saved my butt.
Like any high tech equipment you need to use your brain and your common sense.

Answer:
I realize this being my first post here it probably won't carry much weight, but figured I would suggest another option.
ALK Technologies CoPilot Laptop 4 w/USB GPS Receiver
I plan on buying this in a week. It is made by the same company that makes PCMiler, and does Truck routing, (width, height, weight, etc...)
Yes I understand it is $400+, but anything that makes me more efficient in doing my job is well worth the investment.