As a big believer in using technology in trucking to make my businesses more efficient and profitable, my truck specific GPS is worth its weight in gold! I have been through a couple different models to get it right, but could not imagine being behind the wheel without one now. I am usually a bit hesitant to jump on any form of new technology right away, primarily due to the feeling that new technology needs to prove itself to me before I open up my wallet to “pony up” a premium cost.
I was brought up the old fashioned way in the early years of my career; plan your trip ahead of time with an atlas and pray to God that none of your routes are closed on the way! When truck specific GPS first started to play a major role in the industry, the $400-$500 price range was very hard to swallow. I did not want to spend this kind of money on units that were plagued with mixed reviews. I distinctly remember reading one threaded post in a trucking forum that read, “It led me through the darkest part of town, right through a cemetery, and into a dead end.”
In the many years that have passed since the introduction of the first truck specific GPS units, a lot of research has been done to incorporate enormous amounts of driver feedback into the programming for these devices. After I began running regional freight again throughout the Western U.S., my wife gave me the final push to finally buy one, after hearing my frustrations a few times when getting lost in a few unfamiliar major cities. I opted for the Rand McNally TND510, which boasted so many features you would have thought it was going to drive the truck for you!
This simple piece of equipment made instantly made my driving easier and in a business where time is money, we can safely say mine have more than paid for themselves. The nightmares you usually hear about where drivers are stating, “it got me lost”, are usually from those that don’t carry a map for backup or those who do not plug in their GPS regularly for its updates. Having used one now for going on three years, I have yet to be led into a situation it cannot get me out of. When the charger plug port became faulty on my TND510 the warranty had expired, I thought it was the end of the world! I jumped online that day and purchased a new and improved Rand McNally TND720, which features a ruggedized rubber casing, larger screen, and many other advanced options.
There are many different units available on the market today, which can now be tailored to your specific general needs. The one I use happens to calculate mileage by state, log fuel purchases, searches for specific and customized points of interest (POI’s), monitors service schedules, contains an “e-log” program, provides weather and traffic information, and much more. The one “must do” for any GPS unit is “update, update, update!” Any GPS unit has to be updated regularly to have the most accurate and up-to-date routing, construction, and address information available. Always be sure to keep a map or an atlas handy as a backup, be sure to look ahead to review your routes, and don’t enter an unsafe route if you feel it is wrong. If you happen to pass up a suggested route, let it recalculate the next available safe route and continue to your destination.
With the ease of routing that a truck GPS can offer, it amazes me that more people have not jumped on the boat yet! Having one not only puts you ahead of the game by saving time in trip planning, but can save you from getting lost in unfamiliar territory. If you are not equipped with truck GPS yet, consider making this investment and don’t be scared of the price like I was. Time has proven that these units can be utilized as an effective business tool and they continue to improve each and every year. Next time don’t get lost, “Run Smart” and know where you’re headed!