Jul 14, 2020 • Carriers

GPS Devices for Trucks

GPS Devices for Trucks

Truck GPS navigation devices are different than the one you might use in your everyday car or truck. The screens are usually larger, sturdier for everyday use, and offer more advanced, but necessary, features truck drivers need to safely and efficiently make it to their destination. Here are some of the most common GPS devices that Truckers use in this day and age.

1. Garmin dezl 770LMT

Cost: Approximately $450-$500

Description: 7” HD screen with glass display.

Features: This trucking GPS navigation unit features a truck and trailers services directory, customized trucking routes, lifetime map updates, weigh station alerts, traffic and weather information, backup camera compatibility, and Bluetooth capabilities for hands-free use.

2. Rand McNally TND 520

Cost: Approximately $400

Description: 5” display screen.

Features: This trucking GPS navigation unit features updates on weather, fuel pricing, traffic, and travel centers along with assistance tracking fuel and mileage logs.

3. TruckWayGPS – Model 720

Cost: Approx $150

Description: large 7” touch screen display, with 800×400 pixels.

Features: This trucking GPS navigation unit provides drivers with current and up-to-date maps, 3D maps, as well as free maps for the US and Canada. You can even enter the weight and directions for your truck so you can get the best route for the type of load you’re hauling.

For many drivers, a GPS unit on its own isn’t enough to give them the information they want or need. Many drivers like to use supplementary apps to ensure they have their location and approach nailed down. Apps like Trucker Path offer additional information and features that GPS units simply don’t have (for only $9.99 a month),such as more information on truck stops, best places for truckers to get food, best places to stay the night, updates on whether stops are open, and even ratings from other truck drivers on what these places are like.

By Aldous Aldwin

TagsTruck Truck Driver truck drivers Owner Operator trucking GPS truck GPS Trucker Path Trucking Industry truck stops Truck driver tips Owner Operators Technology Trucking Tips

Trucker Spotlight - Vicki Simons <em>The Trucker Spotlight series explores the lives of truckers and their journey to make a difference in their industry. We interview different people in the trucking industry to understand some life lessons that make them who they are today. We also learn more about their motivations, and the problems that they encounter on the job. We also tackle how Trucker Path's solutions helped them with what they do. The information that they provide helps inform other people who are looking to delve into the trucking world.</em> <h2></h2> <h2></h2> Today we are putting the spotlight on <strong>Vicki</strong>. <h2></h2> <strong>Introduction</strong> <h2></h2> My name is Vicki Simons. <h2></h2> While living in our first company-issued truck full-time in the early 1990s, my husband Mike and I learned quickly that some of the products that are marketed and sold to truckers are what we concluded to be cheaply made but expensive to buy trucker junk. <h2></h2> In those days, technology was not as advanced as it is now, so the only options open to us -- to cook food in our truck -- were 12-volt appliances. <h2></h2> One appliance that we felt would serve us well was a 12-volt "hot pot." <h2></h2> Because these units were constructed with no temperature control, the units were either "all on" or "all off." <h2></h2> So, they burned out quickly. <h2></h2> The warranty -- if there was one at all -- was usually either 30 or 90 days. <h2></h2> Because there were no other cooking solutions that we knew of at the time, we ended up going through eight -- yes, eight! -- of those units. <h2></h2> I was very upset and I kept thinking, "You know, someone ought to do something about this." <h2></h2> Oh, sure, there were occasional articles in trucking magazines that were geared toward helping truckers save money, but after searching for a long time, I found no resources that focused on this topic. <h2></h2> I kept feeling the Lord directing me toward being a "trucker consumer advocate" to help keep truckers from being stung financially. <h2></h2> So with Mike's consent, I spearheaded a website that we envisioned being a clearinghouse of how professional truck drivers from around the world save money -- in order to help each other save money. <h2></h2> That website is: <a href="https://www.Truck-Drivers-Money-Saving-Tips.com/">Truck-Drivers-Money-Saving-Tips.com.</a> <h2></h2> I have been a professional truck driver and Mike's home support team member, both in-truck as a passenger and at home while he's been on the road as a solo trucker. <h2></h2> With nearly 20 years of professional truck driving experience between us -- and my insatiable appetite to research and write in such a way that helps others -- our website has grown to well over a thousand pages. <h2></h2> Every week since 2010, I have written multiple tips and inquiries in order to help truckers save money. <h2></h2> And every week since 2017, I have written a weekly trucking commentary entitled TDMST Weekly Round-Up. <h2></h2> <h3></h3> <h3><strong>Tell us a short story about you. Any trivia? </strong></h3> <h2></h2> My husband Mike and I had both earned college degrees before we became a professional truck driving team. <h2></h2> After graduating from truck driver training school, we began orientation at a large trucking company. <h2></h2> On the very first day of orientation, there were 5 prospective truck drivers in the class. <h2></h2> We were told by the "Orientation Director" that in 45 days, 3 of the 5 of us would not be with the company! <h2></h2> Ouch! <h2></h2> I determined that with all of the time and money we had spent to get to that point, Mike and I were going to be the two who would succeed! <h2></h2> And we did! <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>In the years that you have been driving, what are the significant changes that you've noticed in the trucking industry?</strong></h3> <h2></h2> The most significant changes I've noticed in the trucking industry since the 1990s have been: <h2></h2> <li>increasing regulations;</li> <li>more advanced technology; </li> <li>a desire among some cheapskates to want to replace human truckers with machines (so that they don't have to pay people to move freight); and</li> <li>some truckers relying too much upon GPS units not geared for commercial motor vehicles -- and as a result, being involved in many completely preventable accidents, including: <h2></h2> <ul> <li>hitting low clearances,</li> <li>collapsing bridges on non-truck routes, and</li> <li>getting stuck in places where big trucks are not supposed to travel.</li> </li> </ul> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What made you decide to be a trucker before?</strong></h3> <h2></h2> Originally, we thought that Mike would be the only trucker in our family. <h2></h2> When we visited with a truck driver training school recruiter, he asked Mike if I was going to drive, too. <h2></h2> The thought of me driving a big rig surprised me greatly, but the option was made available. <h2></h2> With a great deal of prayer and consideration, it made sense to us that if we were going to be together on the road, both of us should know how to drive a truck. <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Tell us a story about you and your husband and how you tackle the trucking industry?</strong></h3> <h2></h2> The way that I have tackled the trucking industry is by publishing -- so that others can learn from -- the true accounts that: <h2></h2> <li>we have had on the road and </li> <li>which we have learned from others (including Mike's co-workers).</li> <h2></h2> I ask a lot of questions, including on our website and through my TDMST Weekly Round-Up trucking commentaries. <h2></h2> From my unique perspective, I've also written numerous comments to the FMCSA about various types of proposed trucking regulations <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are your trucking pet peeves?</strong></h3> <h2></h2> I have a number of trucking "pet peeves," including: <h2></h2> <li>people who make decisions affecting truckers who have never spent a day in their lives as truckers;</li> <li>regulations that treat people like robots; </li> <li>the push toward self-driving, driverless, and autonomous trucks; </li> <li>truckers who haul illegal drugs and smuggle illegal aliens;</li> <li>truckers who set themselves up for failure, such as by engaging in distracted driving and/or not maintaining proper following distance; and</li> <li>truckers who blindly follow GPS units -- especially those that are not designed for commercial motor vehicles -- and end up in completely preventable accidents.</li> <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What made you go into blogging?</strong></h3> <h2></h2> I began <a href="https://www.Truck-Drivers-Money-Saving-Tips.com/">Truck-Drivers-Money-Saving-Tips.com</a> as a rant against cheaply made but expensive to buy trucker junk, the first of which was a series of 12-volt "hot pots." <h2></h2> Because these units were constructed with no temperature control, the units were either "all on" or "all off." <h2></h2> So, they burned out quickly. <h2></h2> The warranty -- if there was one at all -- was usually either 30 or 90 days. <h2></h2> Because there were no other cooking solutions that we knew of when we started in trucking in the early 1990s, we ended up going through eight -- yes, eight! -- of those units. <h2></h2> Since we started our website, we have grown it to well over a thousand pages, including: <h2></h2> <li>a huge number of pages filled with information and truck drivers money saving tips, </li> <li>lots of reviews, and </li> <li>contributions from our readers. </li> <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Do you have a favorite truck model/brand?</strong></h3> <h2></h2> The only brand of truck I've ever driven professionally has been Freightliner. <h2></h2> Therefore, I have no other brand with which to compare the Freightliners I have driven or lived in. <h2></h2> In general terms, I believe that trucks driven by regional or long-haul truckers should be equipped with enough space and conveniences so that each trucker can work, sleep, and live comfortably on the road. <h2></h2> Concerning tractors with sleeper berths, I consider the following options to be critical for trucker well-being: <h2></h2> <li>a minimum of 1500 watts AC (alternating current) interior power (to let truckers operate cooking appliances and use other electronic devices);</li> <li>reliable, non-battery-dependent climate control for both cooling and heating (to let truckers rest and sleep comfortably); and</li> <li>an in-truck toilet (whether portable or not).</li> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Could you identify the current pain points in the trucking industry? And maybe some suggestions on how to fix them?</strong></h3> <h2></h2> As of late 2020, these are the current pain points I see in the trucking industry: <h2></h2> <li>Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs);</li> <li>the Hours of Service regulations; </li> <li>problems with broker transparency; and</li> <li>the fact that the U.S. federal agencies that are supposedly devoted to motor carrier "safety" and the "transportation" of goods in our country do not seem to be standing up for truckers as they face problems on the road.</li> <h2></h2> Because the FMCSA is influenced by many people who have never spent a day in their lives as truckers, I believe a lot would change for the better if every agency employee was required -- every year -- to spend a minimum of one week with an experienced trucker, so that they can understand life from a trucker's perspective. <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What keeps you busy nowadays? </strong></h3> <h2></h2> As of late 2020, I have in the works two books: <li>one for aspiring truck drivers and</li> <li>one for those who are already professional truckers.</li> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Did it ever cross your mind to be a CDL instructor?</strong></h3> Yes, and to a certain extent, I consider that I am a CDL instructor because of the information that I provide on our website. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Do you have a favorite truck stop? Also truck stop meal?</strong></h3> Based on changes at both the corporate and management levels over the years, I will not name a specific truck stop as my favorite. <h2></h2> Whether at a truck stop or other restaurant, Mike and I always enjoy a perfectly flavored and cooked steak, together with all of the side dishes. <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are some tips that you would like to share for aspiring truckers? Also some tips and things to look out for based on your recent experiences.</strong></h3> <h2></h2> I will go into a lot more detail about tips for aspiring truckers in one of my upcoming books. <h2></h2> However, the one big overview tip that I will give to prospective truckers -- because trucking is different from every other kind of job out there -- is to make absolutely sure you're cut out for the trucking lifestyle before you start down that path. <h2></h2> For example, regional and long haul truckers are required to sleep away from home, usually in the truck they drive, wherever they park, during their sleeper berth break. <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h4>Vicki Simons</h4> <a href="https://www.Truck-Drivers-Money-Saving-Tips.com/">http://Truck-Drivers-Money-Saving-Tips.com</a> <h3></h3> <h3></h3>

Nov 19, 2020 • Community

Trucker Spotlight - Debbie Deb <em>The Trucker Spotlight series explores the lives of truckers and their journey to make a difference in their industry. We interview different truck drivers to understand some life lessons that make them who they are today. We also learn more about their motivations, and the problems that they encounter on the job. We also tackle how Trucker Path's solutions helped them with what they do. The information that they provide helps inform other people who are looking to delve into the trucking world.</em> <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/09/tsmg-debbie_deb-blog-1.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> Today we are putting the spotlight on <strong>Debbie Deb</strong>, who's been driving for around 3 years now. She describes herself as ambitious, goal oriented, and charismatic. She once drove school busses in Charlotte before she decided to give trucking a try. Let's get to know more about Debbie and how a career in trucking became the perfect fit for her. <h2></h2> <h3></h3> <h3><strong>What made you decide to be a trucker?</strong></h3> I decided to drive trucks to pay off student loans from attending Virginia Commonwealth University and Northern Virginia Community College. I wanted to be a social worker and save all the little kids in bad environments but overworking myself interfered with my internship. I graduated college with honors and pursued sociology while minoring in psychology & social welfare. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What were some challenges that you faced when you started out trucking?</strong></h3> The biggest challenge was training with a male trainer for six weeks in a confined area. Sometimes my personality can exhibit someone who is recluse rather than always extroverted. Backing up the truck was another huge challenge, due to inexperience. The concept, I'd sometimes forget, was turning the wheel one way then the truck would go in a different direction. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>In the years that you've been driving, what are the significant changes that you've noticed in the trucking industry?</strong></h3> Apparently, the FMCSA has regulations more stringent on hours of service when logging on devices to keep track of movement. Since it's only been three years, it's difficult for me to say. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What made you decide to put up your Youtube channel?</strong></h3> I started a Youtube channel to publicize my experience as a lady Trucker & try to convince other women that it was okay to step out their comfort zone. Tried to be informative yet entertaining (debbie deb). <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Any times when you get lonely while driving? How do you deal with it?</strong></h3> I'm lonely all the time, but I deal with it because it's mind over matter. I love my space, prefer things to be kept clean, & I'm particular about my truck. Therefore, being a solo driver all this time NEVER bothered me. I pray a lot, listen to videos on what many people are oblivious to in society, and enjoy learning more about the self and figuring out ways to grow or even elevate. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/09/tsmg-debbie_deb-blog-2.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What keeps you busy nowadays? How did the current Covid-19 situation affect your trucking life?</strong></h3> Working keeps me busy & COVID-19 made me want to elevate more by purchasing my 1st truck on May 7, 2020. Right now, I'm focused my getting my motorcycle & publishing my 1st book about women in trucking. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are your usual routes? Favorite scenic truck route?</strong></h3> It's between the heart of Seattle, WA or the mountains in Denver, CO. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are your must haves or the things that you bring with you when on the road?</strong></h3> Must things are my Bible, items to protect myself for safety reasons, laptop, hair steamer/hair care products, and vitamins. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Favorite Truckstop? Truckstop Food? Favorite truck model?</strong></h3> My favorite truck stop is the Flying J in Primm, NV, as for the food it'll be O'Charleys! Truck model is the Frieghtliner Coronado Harrison glider. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are your trucking pet peeves?</strong></h3> Receiving unwarranted attention (I can be shy at times, but you'll never know),when truck drivers dump their pee or pee bottles anywhere & aren't mindful, when being followed outside after a nice shower by another trucker who's trying to make unnecessary conversation, when drivers do their full 30m break at the fuel island in the daytime (late night is different 2am-3am),when truckers cut you off without giving enough space cause their in a hurry etc. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/09/tsmg-debbie_deb-blog-3.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are some tips that you would like to share for aspiring women truckers?</strong></h3> Don't let discouragement overpower you, choose your trainer wisely, carry a firearm but 1st learn the rules & regulations of each state, protect yourself at all times, have a plan & execute your goals. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Where can people watch your videos on Youtube?</strong></h3> They can view my videos on my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF4iBXy6clLrJLmIaDkmlTA/videos">Youtube Channel, Debbie Deb</a>. <h2></h2> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/q7rzBMpHE9k" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> <h2></h2> Hope you guys enjoy! <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h4>By Aldous Aldwin</h4> <h3></h3> <h3></h3>

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