Best Truck GPS Navigation Devices: A Complete Guide for Commercial Drivers

Reliable, easy to use, quick directions. These are the features that immediately come to mind when talking about the best truck GPS, but if you look deeper, there is more to it than that.

Planning out the route can get challenging and put a lot of stress on the truck driver, because there can be restrictions along the way that the driver may not be aware of, such as permissible loads, one-way roads, restricted traffic, turn restrictions, speed restrictions, construction projects, seasonal roads, detours or new roads, etc. When you have a long journey ahead, you may also need gas station locations, parking points and other services.

In our previous articles, Best Apps for Truckers and Best Truck GPS Apps for Professionals: Jump Right in and Find Your Way, we described the apps that can turn a cellphone into a GPS device, and now comes professional advice on how to choose the best GPS for commercial truck drivers.

Contents:

1. How GPS for Trucking Works?
2. How to Choose the Best Truck GPS?
3. Best Truck GPS Navigation Devices
4. Is Google Maps Any Good for Truck Drivers?
5. Conclusion

How GPS for Trucking Works?

The GPS (short for Global Positioning System) is a system of satellites that can be used to determine the location of various objects, including vehicles, in real time.

Trucking GPS devices operate differently from GPS navigation systems used in personal cars. They can create routes based on the size and weight of the truck, because not all roads are suitable for big trucks.

A truck navigation system has many jobs:

• Optimized route planning.
• Turn-by-turn driving directions.
• Real-time updates alerting of high-traffic areas.
• Driver behavior monitoring.
• Information about truck stops, refueling stations, rest areas, etc.
• 24/7 truck driver community support.

The best truck GPS navigation devices incorporate a lot of cutting-edge technology purposely designed for these types of vehicles. For example, they can calculate the tolls and their locations after the route is identified, and show how to avoid tolls whenever possible. A GPS for tractor trailers allows you to input the exact dimensions of your big rig, and then leads you to the route with no short overpasses or bridges. The electronic log that keeps track of hours in motion, mileage and breaks is often used for fleet management.

The proper use of a truck navigation system empowers truck drivers to drive safely and helps to prevent many accidents.

How to Choose the Best Truck GPS?

Without truck driving GPS navigation systems, we would probably still be driving with maps on the dashboard, asking the copilot to check the route every ten minutes and getting lost all the time. Fortunately, a GPS navigation device is a popular device that many truckers have in their vehicles today.

What is the best GPS for truck drivers? When looking for the best option for truckers, you should consider several factors essential to your specific needs.

Screen Size

When buying a GPS for tractor trailers, there is often a question of screen size. The choice is often determined by personal preferences and the purchase budget.

Many truckers note that navigation devices with a screen size of less than 5 inches are not very convenient to use while driving. The screen displays too little information and the image is not sharp enough.

Numerous surveys conducted among users of navigation for semi trucks show that 5 to 7 inch navigation devices are a common choice among tractor owners who prefer not to pay too much for this device. With this screen size, the sufficient usability of navigation programs can be achieved. The usual display resolution is 480 by 272 pixels, which allows it to show a fairly clear picture.

The best truck GPS with 8 to 10 inch displays offer a bright, crisp high-resolution image in landscape or portrait view. Their owners are unlikely to ever have to zoom the map to view a desired area in more detail, because all the information is always right before their eyes.

Easy to Use

Another distinctive feature of the best truck GPS navigation devices is that they are easy to use. GPS devices with a convenient interface and easy-to-operate controls can be used even by inexperienced truckers.

Top-ranking GPS navigation devices are equipped with a touch screen and hands-free controls that make life easier. You can rely on the voice assistant and focus on the road. It will help you complete various actions while driving, for example, you can change the route without stopping, listen to and send text messages, and make phone calls without taking your hands off the wheel.

Special Features

Truck driver working hours are very different from the typical schedule of most workers. They spend most of their lives on the road, cut off from many channels of information. Knowing what is going on around you can be essential. GPS navigation devices for truck drivers can have special features providing information, such as fuel prices, high-traffic highways, and even a good place to eat or to sleep in an unfamiliar area.

Installation

While choosing a GPS navigation device, few truck drivers think about how they will mount the device on the dashboard, while they should, as this is a very important matter. You may be surprised to know how many drivers are dissatisfied with their GPS because of poor mounting options.

A truck GPS usually comes with an installation kit that includes a suction cup to mount the device on the windshield, and a charger. The location for installing the GPS navigation device in the car is selected by each driver individually. It all depends on the driving style and other habits.

Below are some tips on how to install a portable navigation device.

• The device must not block the driver's view.
• Since the device has a built-in antenna, it must not be covered completely by the roof.
• The charging cable must be long enough to reach the device without removing it from the mount.
• The mounting angle should provide maximum visibility of the screen from the driver's seat.
• Avoid direct sunlight on the screen, making it difficult to read from the display.

Follow these tips, and you will not need any professional help installing the gadget properly.

Long-Term Support

The big problem with certain GPS devices is a lack of long-term support, such as updates to maps and POIs. Maps get outdated, potentially causing problems, for example when new restrictions are introduced along the route you are taking.

Keep in mind that certain types of software not included in the monthly subscription can cost you. You may end up paying extra to download special features.

Learn the terms and conditions on continued map and software updates before buying a GPS. It is worth reading actual user reviews, as these may help you decide if you really need some of those updates.

Storage Space

Storage space is important: the more memory that’s available on the device, the more maps you can download. If the device has a large amount of memory or the option to expand it with an SD card, you can download maps with detailed descriptions of roads.

Best Truck GPS Navigation Devices

Garmin Drive™ 53 GPS Navigator

The Garmin DriveTM 53 GPS Navigator, priced at $129.96, offers a clear trail and provides a simple method of navigation for drivers looking for fast and easy way to get around.

Pros

• Bright, high resolution 5” glass capacitive touchscreen display provides easy to read maps and simple on-screen menus, with customers pointing to its crystal clear display.
• Driver alerts for school zones, speed changes, sharp curves and other emergencies.
• The food, fuel and rest facilities in your itinerary along with cities and milestones make it easier to plan the route to visit during a specific time and distance.
• This combined user rating of 5 star restaurants, hotels, and attractions enables the user to save time on trips.
• U.S. national parks directory easily finds entry to the parks’ entrances, visitor centers, and landmarks.
• This includes detailed maps of North America, keeping it updated across the world, and avoiding issues like phone GPS limitations when moving across borders.
• Garmin Real Directions landmark guidance is made intuitive by using spoken directions by turning by turn and with a built-in interpreter.
• Customer reviewers found it to be reliable and easily readable, but a guide solely regarding navigation.

Cons

• Mixed feedback on route accuracy from some users, though generally it provides correct directions.
• Screen size receives mixed feedback; while larger than a phone for some, others find it too small.
• Uses older USB formats for its cable which sticks straight out, potentially making dash mounting difficult for some users.
• Map updates are not wireless for this specific unit, contrary to general online information about the Drive 53 series, requiring a wired connection for updates.
• Some customers reported outdated maps upon initial use, despite included updates.

The Garmin DriveTM 53 is characterized by intuitive, clear display, and dedicated GPS functionality. It provides reliable navigation and helpful driver notifications and points of interest and is a good choice for everyday driving and road trips, especially if you are using an older smartphone for navigation.

OHREX N700 GPS Navigation for Car Truck RV

Another good choice, especially for the price $64.99, is OHREX N700 GPS Navigation for Car Truck RV.

Pros

• Seven-inch touchscreen.
• RAM: 256M, Internal Memory: 8 GB Samsung SSD.
• Pre-installed 2D and 3D maps, including USA, Canada and Mexico.
• Customized routes according to vehicle’s dimensions and weight.
• Realistically voiced turn-by-turn notifications.
• Displays the current speed and estimated time to arrival.
• A 3000mAh lithium battery.
• Reliable dashboard mount.
• The US brand OHREX offers regular maps upgrades and 24/7 support.

Cons

• The highway speed and weight limits listed are out of date.
• There are no automatic updates.
• No Bluetooth support: the owner has to download updates to a memory card and put the card (not included) into the unit.
• Announcements are made too late, and you can miss your turns and merges.

Large display, ease of mapping routes and low price go some way toward making up for the issues of the OHREX N700 GPS Navigation device.

TomTom Trucker 620 6-Inch Gps Navigation Device

The TomTom Trucker 620 6-Inch Gps Navigation Device offers some of the best-in-class smartphone support and at $275.99, has impressed many truck drivers.

Pros

• Six-inch high-brightness and sunlight-readable touchscreen with a 480 x 272 resolution.
• Connectivity options: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi.
• Regularly updated USA and Canada maps for large vehicles with specialized routing for hazardous cargo, vehicle size and weight.
• Free lifetime updates.
• Details on more than 1500 fuel stations, parking locations and service centers for large vehicles.
• Secured by a specialized click-and-drive active magnetic mount.
• Hands-free calling and text-to-speech.

Cons

• The CPU is a bit sluggish, and it takes too long to load new requests.
• Does not offer alternate routes as you proceed to your destination.

TomTom is the best choice for a commercially driven vehicle, offering the best value for money.

Rand McNally TND 1050

The Rand McNally TND 1050 for $997.00 strikes the imagination with its superior navigation functionality.

Pros

• An Android tablet and GPS device in one.
• Ten-inch touch-sensitive display.
• Heavy-duty anti-glare screen.
• Upgraded Rand navigation with 33% more truck-specific road data than other GPS providers.
• Access to any destination, address or POI from a single-row search box.
• Enhanced mapping and graphics: switches the map view between 3D map, North up, or Heading up.
• Specialized routing for hazmat; empty or loaded vehicles; straight, 48', 53', double and triple trailers; according to height and width; fastest or shortest route.
• Choose from three distances at which you want to be warned about an upcoming turn.
• Options for media, alarm and alert volume, do not disturb, and default sounds.
• Displays a wide range of information concerning your current trip.
• Three mounting options.

Cons

• Slow at times.
• It is big and consumes a lot of space.
• Has issues finding certain locations.
• Expensive.

The Rand McNally TND Tablet 1050 is designed for professional drivers, and it smashes the competition with its best-in-class truck navigation experience and a plethora of special features.

Garmin Dēzl™ OTR810 with Night Vision

Garmin is a market leader in the truck GPS space, and its Garmin dēzl OTR810, Large 8" GPS Navigator, is a highly regarded choice for professional drivers for $499.99.

Pros

• The large 8-inch high-resolution touchscreen can be used in landscape or portrait mode, and it’s bright and bright with good clarity.
• Custom truck routing based upon weight and size of your truck, alerts of new bridge heights, weight limits, sharp curves, and steep grades that help drivers avoid closed off areas.
• BirdsEye Satellite Imagery provides high resolution aerial views of loading docks, truck entrances, and security gates, helping to speed up complicated arrival planning.
• The road planner feature helps drivers review the routes and identify the optimal route for fuel, comfort breaks, and overnight stays.
• Split-screen view displays an overview of the remaining route alongside active map, including impending wind and weather conditions (when paired with the dēzl app).
• Truck & Trailer Services directory allows filtering of truck stops by brand or amenity (e.g., "Love's" or "Showers").
• PrePass notifications help save time and improve efficiency via onscreen weight station and bypass alerts (users have to be active PrePass account and dēzl app to activate this alert).
• Integrated map updates of North America, including the U.S., Mexico, Canada, U.S. Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, and Bahamas.
• Access to live traffic, weather, and smart notifications when paired with the dēzl app, including loyalty points at Love’s and Pilot Travel Centers LLC.
• Compatible with BC 50 backup cameras, dēzl trucking headsets, and dēzl Edition smartwatches for a seamless trucking experience.
• Secure mounting praised by users for holding firm even in rough truck conditions.

Cons

• Custom truck routing may not account for all vehicle characteristics in all route suggestions; drivers must defer to posted signs and road conditions.
•  Some of the other features, such as PrePass notifications and live services, require the dēzl app pairing with a compatible smartphone running the dēzl app.

The Garmin dēzl OTR810 is highly rated by truckers, boasting large, easy-to-read displays, well-defined custom routing, and other features like BirdsEye Satellite Imagery and PrePass notification. Customers often note the benefits it provides for drivers with a variety of truck-specific problems, and the overall performance of it as a crucial tool to OTR drivers

Is Google Maps Any Good for Truck Drivers?

Many car drivers rely on Google Maps for traveling. It is helpful for finding exact directions, fuel stations or restaurants on the way from point A to point B.

But, is Google Maps indeed good for truck drivers, as many claim it is?

There are some aspects for professional truck routing to take into account:

1. Truck drivers need to comply with the government rules for long-haul trucking. For this reason, their GPS app needs to keep track of their hours of work and mandatory driving breaks, and manage their workloads. Google Maps is nowhere near managing these things.
2. Big rigs do not move as quickly on the road as cars. Commercial GPS apps can account for the vehicle type and its speed to avoid late deliveries and other issues.
3. Truck drivers have to consider many special factors, such as the size of the vehicle, its weight, the height of bridges, etc.

In other words, truckers can use Google Maps for finding POIs, but it is not good as a dedicated GPS navigation device, as it does not give you the ability to adjust the input info based on the unique features of your tractor trailer jobs.

Conclusion

As you can see, there is a huge gap between commercial trucking and personal driving. Truck driving requires a lot of professionalism and a high level of responsibility. GPS navigation devices are designed to make truckers’ tough work safer, more efficient and more comfortable. You can also check out our class a flatbed jobs page which we update regularly.

A high level of staff proficiency is the fundamental resource of HMD Trucking. In turn, we strive to provide our valued truck drivers with every high-tech device to help on the road, including the best truck GPS navigation systems.

If you want to join a company that takes the safety and comfort of its employees seriously, apply for a job at HMD Trucking now.