Trucking with GPS

There are three major mapping databases used by the manufacturers of these devices, and even though vast improvements in accuracy have been made over the years, every one of these databases has errors and omissions.

By THOMAS R. WILES
Truckers Connection

7/16/2008

GPS — you’ve gotta love it. GPS makes the truck driver’s job of constantly finding addresses in strange cities, both large and small, much easier than ever before. I’ve had a Garmin C-550 hard-drive-based touch screen GPS for coming up on two years and I’d really hate to have to go back to not having it as a navigation aid.

That being said, there’s still a large amount of room for improvement in GPS navigation equipment.

I find that my Garmin GPS has an accuracy rate of about 90 percent. About 10 percent of the time, the destination address number either isn’t in the database though the street name is, or the street name doesn’t exist in the database, or the database says it’s on the opposite side of the road than what it actually is, or the numbering is off by as much as a half a mile or more.

Even with these relatively few errors, GPS makes finding addresses in unfamiliar places much easier than the old way of having to call every place and write down the directions. Many trucking companies provide directions via Qualcomm, but I find about half of the time these directions have problems as well. However, between the GPS, the Qualcomm directions, and computer-based mapping software such as Street Atlas USA and Microsoft Streets and Trips, and as a last resort my cell phone, I’m able to get to locations with relative ease.

I also have a Windows Mobile-based cell phone. I recently got a program for $90 per year called Swift Mobile that gives me real-time nationwide weather information, showing me current radar images, satellite images, current conditions, etc. Recently I was driving through western South Dakota and using the Swift Mobile program and my cell phone’s nationwide data network connection I was able to see some late-spring snow squalls before I drove into them. The Swift Mobile application is capable of pairing up with telephone-based GPS, following along with the actual vehicle location.

What I’d like to see in future GPS devices would be an incorporation of real-time weather-based information with a real-time data connection providing this information incorporated all into one device. At the press of a button I’d like to be able to see real-time radar views, satellite views, condition reports, etc. I’d like to see not only map views of roads, but Google Earth/Microsoft Virtual Earth-based zoom-able satellite photo views with the ability for the end user to switch back and forth from the map view to the satellite view.

Data connections are pretty much available now in most places. Once full-time data connections are incorporated, all sorts of interesting applications can be incorporated into GPS devices. GPS devices of this kind are currently continuing to advance very rapidly and the price continues to come down as the level of sophistication along with ease-of-use continues to increase.

Buying a GPS now

If you are buying a GPS navigation aid for the first time, take my advice and buy one that has a completely self-contained database. Also, make sure that you get one that has a good track record with other users – look the specific model of GPS device(s) you are looking at up on Amazon.Com or other sites where real-world users are able to write their own reviews.

I must admit I’ve had relatively good luck with the GPS devices I’ve purchased in the past. The Garmin unit I have is able to quickly find the satellites when I turn it on using just its own built-in antenna. Some less expensive units may have problems finding the navigation satellite signals, requiring an external antenna. This will vary from model to model even within the same brand, so do a bit of homework before making that purchase.

Another useful feature that I find is worth paying extra for is something called “text to speech.” That feature allows the built-in artificial computer-based voice to speak street names rather than just say “turn right in 500 feet,” etc. It’s much better and far less confusing if the unit can say “turn right on Maple Street in 500 feet.”

GPS manufacturers will also try to get you to buy database upgrades. From talking with friends that have done upgrades to their GPS units I’ve decided these updates probably aren’t worth buying. I’ve decided myself to simply continue to use the same database that came originally with the unit and continue to use it until the device itself becomes worn out and/or stops working.

Built-in batteries can be problematic, as the batteries will likely last just a couple of years before they will no longer accept a charge. This describes my Garmin C-550 – the built-in battery is completely shot, but the unit itself continues to work fine as long as it’s plugged in to a 12-volt socket. It’s plugged in and running 24/7 most of the time, whether bouncing down the road on the truck’s dash or parked.

Today’s GPS devices are extremely useful gadgets and represent a great value for the money. Tomorrow’s GPS devices will incorporate exiting new applications that will make navigating roadways easier than ever.

E-mail me with comments or questions at tomwiles@gmail.com. I do a mostly-daily MP3 audio podcast located at www.truckertompodcast.com where you can either listen online on your computer or download it to listen on a portable MP3 player.