There should be no difficulty in getting from point A to point B. For a comfortable trip, there are expressways, road signs, gas stations, and roadside cafes. Many people who are far from cargo transportation believe that one app with a navigator is enough for a trip. But when you start thinking about cargo transportation, it turns out that there are many nuances that ordinary GPS cannot solve. This is confirmed by experts from Logity Dispatch, who are faced with drawing up routes every day. After all, one of the main tasks of cargo transportation is the time- and cost-effective delivery of goods.
Truckers at work face dead spots, low bridges, narrow roads, weight restrictions, bad weather, and a lack of parking spaces. But innovations make it easier for operators, dispatchers, and truckers to work with GPS monitoring.
If you don’t want to understand the subtleties of choice, we suggest reading about the best truck’s GPS in this blog. But if you need to understand the selection criteria, then read this article!
Basic information about GPS navigation
For effective route planning, a global positioning system (GPS) is used to determine the location of the object, its direction, and speed of movement. The gadget determines the shortest path from point A to point B, considering those important factors (traffic jams, construction, accidents, etc.). Also, the navigation system updates the route if you turned off or went the wrong way (not along the route): you will be offered either to return to a certain point in order to re-go correctly, or they will rebuild the route along the new road that you have chosen.
But the requirements for truck navigators are much higher.
GPS navigation system for trucks: features
These are some of the most advanced apps and gadgets in navigation. Because, at the same time, the system must plot a route and consider many other factors. For example, truck characteristics (height, weight, etc.) are often entered into the device. And on the basis of these data, a route is drawn up along the roads where your truck can pass by dimensions. Because of this, you, as a trucker, owner-operator, or dispatcher, do not waste time rechecking roads and rules.
Also, GPS for trucks did not forget about rest: there, you can find information about roadside hotels, parking lots, and cafes.
And as a result, thanks to the truck navigation system, you will have more efficient and shorter routes. Your truck will not waste fuel wandering or waiting, will not waste time, and will bring the cargo in due time. It also reduces the chance of an accident and receiving fines for unauthorized travel, for example, under a low bridge.
What should you pay attention to when choosing a truck’s GPS navigation?
Some of these features may not be relevant to you, but most will make driving and route planning more manageable.
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Multiple truck profiles
It is convenient for those fleets where there is one application or gadget for several different types of trucks. You simply switch to other settings and calmly plan the route without re-entering all the technical specifications.
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Speed control
To avoid dangerous situations on the road, avoid fines and save your CSA score, the navigator will warn you about the speed limit on different roads.
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Constant system updates
The navigator should contain up-to-date information, given that repairs and traffic rules change on different sections of the road.
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Compliance with safety requirements
For work, truckers need to transport different loads of complexity and danger. And for these goods, there are also their own rules for transportation — this should be taken into account in the navigator.
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Warnings about dangers
It is essential for truckers to know about the upcoming steep ascents, descents, narrow roads, and sharp turns.
- Accurate ETAs that are constantly updated
This is necessary so that the trucker receives essential information and is not distracted by viewing messages or phone calls.
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Ability to create trip reports
This function will significantly simplify the work of both the dispatcher and the trucker, will help resolve controversial issues and find the cause of delays, breakdowns, etc. A convenient feature for owners-operators, and dispatchers are tracking and notification when a trucker significantly deviates from the route. This is necessary in order to avoid confusion and problems with the estimated delivery time.
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Lifetime updates
We have already talked about how important it is to get up-to-date information. But it is also vital for businesses that these map updates appear constantly.
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Real-time weather alerts
This is very important for trucks, as the delivery work and driving a large car very much depends on weather conditions. And in some states, ignorance of weather conditions on a particular day can lead to an accident.
Also, a nice bonus for an ideal navigator can be Bluetooth, a large display, a lane assistance system, and warnings about crossing the state border.
