When it comes to essential tools that you need after getting your CDL a strong trucker GPS needs to be at the top of the list. Unfortunately many new drivers learn that using Google Maps will lead you into a bad situation very quickly that very well could cost you your job and possibly your CDL at the end of the day
The Importance Of A Good Trucker GPS: Google Maps Are Meant For Four Wheelers
The main issue with Google Maps is that they were designed for people driving around in four wheelers and not the professional truck driver.
Google Maps is handy for trip planning for a commercial truck driver however that is where its usefulness stops.
As a CDL holder you know that there are routes around the United States, Canada and elsewhere that do not allow for vehicles the size of a commercial vehicle. The GPS used with Google maps are designed to find the fastest way from point A to point B which means narrow roads, low bridges and residential areas
The number of CDL holders that lose their license each and every year due to following the Google GPS is staggering. Yes the app is free however the cost following an accident is huge
The Importance Of A Good Trucker GPS: Available Routes
When I use to work for a mega the company had their own GPS installed in all of their trucks. Unfortunately this particular GPS was set to find the shortest distance from Stop A to Stop B. Now I said the shortest route and not the fastest route which is a massive distance when one is trying to maximize their hours and get the most miles possible each week
A particular route was one in New York State that started at the border in Buffalo. The company GPS route had a route that was roughly seventy miles shorter than the one my trucker GPS was providing. However the route the company GPS wanted me to take went through every single small town in the area. Whereas my trucker GPS wanted me to stick to the Interstate. The first time I followed the company route thinking that there must be a reason behind it, bad mistake. It took approximately ninety minutes longer than if I had just stayed on the Interstate due to a faster average speed
To be honest for years I would just use the company GPS for the last ten miles to the delivery or pick up spot
A solid trucker GPS may give you a variety of options when it comes to routes and it will break down the time it will take to complete each. It will also ensure that you are avoiding roads that do not allow large vehicles
The Importance Of A Good Trucker GPS: Avoiding Low Bridges
As you can see from the photo at the top of this article when a commercial truck meets a low bridge the bridge always wins I wonder if the driver was using Google maps and I wonder how fast his company fired him after hitting the bridge
When you get off of a truck route the chances of hitting a low bridge increases dramatically. Now if you are a local driver who has been driving in the area for years then chances are you know where all of the low bridges are located. However if you are running OTR chances are you do not know the area well and where all of the low bridges are located
I had to pick up a driver once who was hours away from the terminal. Turns out he was following Google maps and ended up in a position where he had to deal with a low bridge. Instead of stopping, putting on his hazard lights and calling the police for help he attempted to squeeze under a twelve foot high bridge. End of the story was that he was given a large fine by the police, caused tens of thousands of dollars of damage to the truck and trailer and lost his job all in one swoop
The Importance Of A Good Trucker GPS: Rerouting
So you are driving in Ohio and suddenly the road in front of you is shut down due to an accident. Your trucker GPS will tell you whether there is a safe way to get around the accident if you use the available exit. It will calculate whether the route allows commercial traffic and get you moving again.
However if you rely on Google maps you may find yourself in a position that you can not get out of. Could be that a bridge on the new route has a weight limit or their is a low bridge or the new route will place you miles away from the Interstate
The Importance Of A Good Trucker GPS: ELD Availability
The days of running paper logs are pretty much over unless your ELD decides to not work that particular day for whatever the reason
A good trucker GPS will be able to track your hours of service and gives you the ability to better plan your route. Whether that is an indicator that you must take your DOT regulated thirty minute break or how much time you have remaining on your eleven hour driving day or fourteen hour on duty clock.
It is a simple thing however it also means less stress for the driver as it means one less thing to worry about
The Importance Of A Good Trucker GPS: Picking The Right One
I have used the two most popular brands of trucker GPS, Garmin and Rand McNally, and each has their own benefits and disadvantages however if you are asking me which better it is basically tied.
When picking the one for you it is going to come down to features, size of the actual GPS and of course cost. Just a warning they are not cheap by any means
I know there are trucker GPS apps that you can download to your phone and pay a monthly subscription cost however I have never used them so I have nothing to say. I do know that I prefer a big screen that I can see the route with just a quick glance however that is just personal preference
The Importance Of A Good Trucker GPS: Conclusion
I guess the most important item to take away from this particular article on Truck Driver CDL101 is that avoid Google maps and any other app that is not specifically built for the CDL holder. Saving a few bucks by using a free app may make sense financially however in the long run it is going to put you in a bad place
As for the perfect trucker GPS it is going to come down to preference. Do your research, talk to fellow drivers on what they like and do not like and do your research. Yes they are expensive however they are also worth every penny in keeping you safe on the road.
