Question:
just came in the mail today and although i have only had it for a whole 45 minutes, maybe it's premature to make this statement. this piece of overpriced crap is bound to get me into some serious trouble. i did a couple sample trip plans. example flushing queens to 350 5th ave (empire state building) the thing had me going over the 59th st bridge. on another trip it had me going on lake shore drive. it is the co pilot 9 truck version. there is a setting for 53ft trailer but i did not see anything for 13.6. maybe i just don"t know how to use it . but iam shure the mileage is adding extra miles to the trips. i hope i can return this thing . it seems to me a road atlas supplemented with google maps and directions would get you where you need to go just fine. the google map has just as much detail . and it"s free.

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Google... Yep just stop at your local truck stop....if you can find parking hook up to the internet (if its working) and google. Buy Streets and Trips 2006 or Delorme AND a good TRUCKER'S Atlas, add common sense and you'll do just fine.''


Answer:
Streets and trips will route you through the mid town tunnel unless you force it to avoid that area, then it will send you across the 59th street bridge.
I am curious which way you would go. The 59th street bridge is a local truck route and seems a good option if you are to tall to use the tunnel. The Manhattan or Williamsburg bridges will put you into the financial district forcing you into even worse congestion.
m

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the wilamsburg and 59 st bridge are not options for big trucks . they are totally illegal and not physicaly possible. the only options for east river crossing is manhatten bridge and triboro bridge. as far as programing the co pilot to keep you off and on specific bridges or routes . it is supposed to know what is legal and illegal thats the whole purpose of getting the program.

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The sad thing is, Co-Pilot is probably the best product for truck weight and height restrictions. I've got it, but still prefer DeLorme -- intended for recreational vehicles. Of course, I have o check everything on the Atlas, but I mostly run familiar routes so my Atlas usually collects dust until I get some freaky trip I've never done before.
You've found the problem. You can't completly trust truck-specific routing software anyway, so why spend all the extra money if you can't count on it to be "perfect". Go with the cheaper program (much cheaper) and check weight and height restrictions the old fashioned way, until they get these things right.
The reality for me is -- 90% of the value I get from gps navigation on my laptop is all the other stuff -- miles, comparing routes, bird's eye view of where I am if I get lost, updated real-time distance to my next turn or stop, points of interest, (Delorme has almost all the truck stops, washes, dealers and repair shops) ...etc. Evenif the truc restrictions were perfect, it's only a small part of the reason to use such a system.
DeLorme is about $100 including gps unit, and is very flexible and easy to use. I supplement it with a barnd new paper atlas every year -- paper because I use it so infrequentl it dosn't get ripped apart and there's no reason to buy the expensive plastic laminated version.
Be safe.

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That my friend is the exact reason I prefer to "pirate" ALL software off the Internet.........I am out absolutely nothing............when I pirated my "DeLorme", and found it didn't suit my needs......so I just deleted it.....no big deal..............I did find my "PC Miler" (Fleet, Hazmat, Streets, Basic, Fuel Tax etc) quite adequate for my needs, well worth the 4-minutes it took me to download. ................please remember, " Once a Pirate, always a Pirate".
Sort of like "Nicotine Addiction", a hard habit to break.
Answer:
The cheaper recreational systems like DeLorme are almost given away for the price of the gps unit. The sofware is sometimes designed so only that company's gps unit will work. I downloaded a program to use the Co-Pilot gps on DeLorme, but with mixed results. The last thing you want is a rare software glitch shutting down your system on a final approach to a customer in downton traffic. The systems are pretty worthless without a gps -- except as a detailed map and router. At least fifty percent of benefit to me is the real-time gps tracking of the trip in progress.
I don't mind paying for something of value. The owners or workers have a right to be compensated for their efforts, be they song writers, film producers, software designers, truckers... I had plent of people skip out on their tab when I owned a nightclub. I'm sure the fact they got away with it, made it alright in their eyes, like the brokers and trucking companys that get away with ripping off O/Os and drivers. Theft is acceptable so long as you dont get caught -- the mantra of the new culural conservatism?

Answer:
Co-pilot truck is without a doubt the best software available for truck routing. It uses PC Miler for it's streets data base and adds in the truck stops, parking areas etc. plus GPS availability. I used it for several years without a single problem. It was simple and easy to navigate. As always when you combine the best with ease of use you will pay more. But, I only paid once except for an update and used it on several computers.
With that said, there is nothing that beats customer directions. Especially if you talk to the right people. That is those who are in charge of dispatching and receiving trucks. Talk to the receptionist and you'll be in trouble. More than once customer directions were a little farther than what Co-Pilot showed but they were always easier.

Answer:

The road atlas is a good idea. Google maps has good map data (Navtech), but it isnt going to avoid low bridges or non-truck routes. And Google maps has another disadvantage ... it only works when you have an active internet connection. I drive a lot of places where I do not have this.
Isn't the Co-pilot software being sold for $99 including the USB GPS reciever? And you think this is overpriced? I dont see how you can beat that price.
Did you try configuring the software routing options? Does it have options for fastest vs shortest route etc?
The best routing available from what I have seen and heard is found online at Mapquest, or in Microsoft Streets and Trips software (a very expensive $29). But would a professional driver rely on a computer generated route?
I have not used Co-pilot ... but if you want computer software that does truck specific routing I think it is one of very few options. And $99 is a great price when they bundle a GPS reciever with it.

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Exactly why you should not use a laptop running a Microsoft operating system. Get a Garmin

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Fixed SPEECH IS WORDS THAT THEY WILL BEND
FREEDOM WITH THIER EXCEPTION"
Metallica "Eye of the Beholder"


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OK you can start laughing at me now...
I have never even looked into any of these GPS systems and dont know a clue about them, but at same time am interested in them as a future purchase.
My question(s) are: After buying the hardware, Am I going to need to purchase a Service plan like the XM radios or is it free ?
Seriously: which hardware system for under $200.00 would you suggest.
BTW: I do not have a laptop
Any information on this will be greatly appreciated
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copoilot uses ALK's own database in the USA which is why they can ofer the weight and height recrictions in the map data if you using anything over a rigid thn id use the 53ft trailer option

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The GPS sattelite system is paid for with your tax dollars, so it isnt free, but you already paid for it so there arent any additional fees, except for Map and software updates
A $200 limit? Well Meijer stores had one of the old Obsolete Magellan models for $99 after thanksgiving, regular price was $199. But that sure wouldn't be MY choice, I hate the magellans.
Assuming you would want to buy a new one, Garmins I-2 or C330 would be your best options. The I-2 is $236 at Walmart right now. You would need to add to that a 1 megabyte transflash card (about $40, less with Rebates) if you wanted to store map data for the entire US. And you would need to use a computer to transfer map data from a DVD-ROM onto the transflash card.
The I-2 is very small ... the smallest GPS unit you can get. And it has a monochrome display, rather than color. It is high resolution though and very readable.
Heres a link where you can buy it
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4016514
You would probably be much happier with a C320, which would have a bigger display, touch screen and color. It would also come with more detailed routing data in the map database ... but it costs a bit more. At $268 it is a much better deal than the I-2 ... but is $32 more
Like the I-2, the C320 would need additional memory to store the entire united states maps (1 meg SD card, under $20 if you get the right deal)
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3556743
The C330 has internal maps preloaded into onboard memory, so no computer would be required unless you needed to update map data later on, and no additional memory would need to be purchased ... but it goes for $328 at Walmart.
Also, the I-2 and other "I" series come with suction mounts, designed to stick on your windshield. These are illegal in California and at least one other state.
You might possibly get these cheaper elsewhere on the internet. No doubt you can get a better price if you buy used.
If your $200 limit cannot budge, and you insist on a new one, You will have to look around for a good deal on a Magellan or one of those other brands like TomTom etc. I do not recommend those, but the Magellan they had for $99 was a great price.

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Great info XSNIDRIVER !! Thanks
I have seen the ones at Wal-Mart and dont think that the hand held (which look like fish finders) would be worth spending the money and is why I havent bought one yet. So I sounds like I will have to up my limit to about $450.00. And will have to wait till after X-mas.
I have seen the handheld and wondered ummm wheres the keyboard to type in address´s But I guess you download address´s from your comp into memory. So I
guess I would need the 330 or better to be worth even thinking about it. Nice to know after buying the unit there are no more costs to use it. HaHaHa not yet anyways
P-Dub